CCS teachers get one-time state bonus

July 16, 2025 by Ben Pounds

Clinton City Schools’ teachers are getting a bonus from the state, and the school system is considering a similar one for other staff.

As part of the Education Freedom Act passed by the Tennessee General Assembly, each certified teacher who spends at least 50% of the day teaching students received a $2,000 one-time bonus from the state of Tennessee.

Clinton’s Board of Education passed a resolution to opt in to the teacher bonus during its February meeting.

While the funds won’t arrive at the school district until this month, the city schools paid teachers the bonus in their June checks.

However, director of Clinton City Schools Kelly Johnson said the state will pay back the funds for the bonuses.

The City Council approved the raises in a June 23 meeting with a budget amendment adding $124,000 in expenditures for the school for the bonuses and other measures.

It passed unanimously among the members present.

The state isn’t giving bonuses to administrators, instructional coaches and classified staff, Johnson said.

However, the Board of Education will discuss and possibly approve a plan for addressing these staff members at its August meeting.

Any one-time bonus for them will come from general purpose funds, Johnson said.

“CCS firmly believes that if one category of staff receives a bonus, everyone should be included,” Johnson said.