Core Notes
May 21, 2025
Dear TCS Families,
As we close out another school year, I want to take a moment to thank you for your continued partnership and support of the Tuscaloosa City Schools. It has been a year filled with progress, learning and growth—and none of it would be possible without your trust and collaboration.
While our students take a well-earned break, our administrators will be working hard behind the scenes, some with our TCS Summer Learning program, and others to prepare for a strong start to the 2025–26 school year. We are committed to ensuring every student returns in August to an environment where they are valued and equipped for success.
Please note: The first day of school for students is Thursday, August 7, 2025.
Thank you once again for choosing TCS. We are proud to serve your family and community, and we look forward to welcoming our students back in August.
Mike Daria
TCS Superintendent
The Tuscaloosa City Board of Education on Tuesday approved several personnel changes, including the non-renewal of contracts and resignations, as the district adjusts to a $7 million budget shortfall.
In total, the district reported 11 resignations, 18 non-renewals of certified staff and 7 non-renewals of classified employees. Assistant Superintendent of Operations Dr. Deron Cameron said the non-renewals of specific employees reflect both performance-based decisions and shifting job availability due to reduced funding.
The cuts come in the wake of a failed property tax referendum in September 2024, which was proposed to increase local funding for Tuscaloosa City Schools. Without the additional revenue, the district is now reducing the number of locally funded positions—roles not covered by state funding.
Still, district leaders say they’ve worked strategically to minimize layoffs. TCS recently reduced its reserve fund goal from a two-month to a 1.5-month reserve, creating more budget flexibility and helping preserve jobs. The district has also relied heavily on attrition, filling positions left vacant by retirements or departures rather than cutting filled roles.
Operational costs at the Central Office have declined to 4.05% of the total budget, down from 5% five years ago, aligning with state guidance to keep administrative spending below 5%.
While some positions are being eliminated, the district is continuing to hire for certain roles, including bus drivers and teaching positions. Cameron said some employees impacted by non-renewals may be choose to reapply for open roles elsewhere in the system.
Board members voiced their frustration over the having to make the reductions.
"The decisions your team is having to make, you have spent hours and hours looking at every single position," said District 3 board member Lesley Powell. "None of these decisions were hasty—it was very difficult."
District 5 board member Erica Grant emphasized that the funding shortfall, not mismanagement, led to the reductions.
"We don’t want anybody gone," Grant said. "It’s not us mismanaging money—we just got an audit with no findings. It’s just the situation at hand."
State audit presented to board
An outside audit was recently completed by the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts for the Tuscaloosa City Schools, looking at financial records and federal financial assistance programs for the period of Oct. 1, 2023 to Sept. 30, 2024. There were no findings in the audit report, the board was briefed on May 20. That means that the board complied with all federal laws and regulations.
To see a copy of the full audit, click here: Attachment.aspx
