GALLATIN, TN (WSMV) -
The Sumner County Board of Education met in front of an overflow crowd Thursday evening as leaders continue to work to resolve a budget impasse that has kept schools closed.
Commissioners had voted Monday to shuffle $2.2 million in capital funds to the school system, but that was far short of the more than $7 million school leaders had originally sought.
In response Thursday, the school board trimmed its funding request by just over $1 million. They want to show county commissioners they're willing to negotiate and end a stalemate that has lead to four days of empty schools.
While board members went back and forth for nearly three hours, they stood firm that laying off teachers or trimming pay is not an option.
But they did agree to eliminate a request for eight new guidance counselors for high schools and voted to eliminate $400,000 they now contribute to an adult education program.
The district has kept a three-percent pay increase for teachers, which would be their first raise in five years.
The sides hope the county can find the funds for adult education in its budget.
The board requested the county commission meet Monday to consider its new proposal. If the county commission meets Monday, the school board will then call another special meeting, but they said the earliest that schools could start is Aug. 15.
About 28,000 students attend public schools in Sumner County.
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