As a reminder, Hamilton County school board members voting in favor of giving themselves retroactive retirement pay for part-time work – in an era when all we hear is how schools are hurting for money – were Chip Baker, Janice Boydston, Linda Mosley, George Ricks and Jeffrey Wilson.
Voting against giving themselves those ridiculous benefits were Chester Bankston, Everett Fairchild, Kenny Smith and Rhonda Thurman. Bankston and Smith, who are both leaving the board, had come to their senses and reversed earlier yes votes.
Now, attention turns to new board members Mike Evatt, Joe Galloway and David Testerman. I don’t know whether, at this point, they and the no votes who remain on the board – Fairchild and Thurman – could take away this tidy little retirement bonus from those who are already in line to get it. But it would be some consolation if they united to rescind it for future board members.
That does raise the prospect of members who are grandfathered in getting cash that later members wouldn’t. But current members – at least those who oppose the benefit – could voluntarily agree to donate their future bonuses, as Bankston plans to do.
Alas, the chance that the new board will overturn the benefits appears slim.