County School Board members will be keeping their retirement pay.
The board voted 4-4 on a motion to rescind the pay at a special called meeting on Tuesday night. Board attorney Scott Bennett said five votes were needed to rescind the action.
Voting to rescind were Chester Bankston, Rhonda Thurman, Everett FairchiId and Kenny Smith.
Voting to keep the retirement pay were Janice Boydston, George Ricks, Chip Baker and Linda Mosley.
Jeffery Wilson was absent.
During a heated discussion, Mr. Baker made a motion to also cut contributions to board member health insurance. Ms. Thurman is the only member on the health insurance. She said she has a pre-existing medical condition and was having to pay $1,200 per month in private insurance.
She was paying $283 per month on the school policy. Mr. Baker said the school system was subsidizing her insurance at a rate of about $10,000 per year.
A motion to also cut the health insurance passed with everyone supporting it except Mr. Fairchild.
However, since the motion to rescind both benefits did not pass, Ms. Thurman keeps her school insurance benefit.
Ms. Thurman said, "The only reason that motion was put forward was to try to force me to change my vote. But I am not going to sell my soul for $800 a month."
She said the school insurance plan is "so rich that I feel guilty taking it." She said premiums need to be raised for her and for other school employees.
Ms. Boydston will receive a one-time $21,700 payment under the new retirement offering to board members.
The current amount for Mr. Fairchild was put at $9,000 and for Mr. Baker is $7,500.
Other amounts listed were $4,500 for Ms. Thurman and $3,000 each for Mr. Bankston, Mr. Wilson and Mr. Smith.
Linda Mosley and George Ricks are at $1,500.
The motion initially passed 7-2, but it brought an outcry from a number of residents and school employees.
Mr. Bankston said he will distribute his retirement payment to the schools.