Willis ISD approves employee stipend at regular meeting

The Willis ISD board of trustees approved a $1,000 employee retention stipend at its Oct. 21 regular board meeting.

The cost

The recently approved stipend is one part of a district-wide initiative to support WISD employee retention.  As previously reported, WISD trustees approved a $1,500 stipend for WISD educators and district staff at their April 22 regular board meeting. 

The current $1,000 employee stipend will be released in December and applies to anyone employed by WISD as of Nov. 1, 2026, who remains until May 26, 2027. Any employee who chooses to leave or has their contract terminated would need to repay the full amount.   

Notable quote

Garrett Matej, WISD's chief financial officer, said that the current and previous retention payments do a good job of not only attracting new employees but also showing appreciation for the work they’ve done in the district. 

"Retention stipends are one of the ways the Board invests in the people who serve our students every day," said Matej. "Attracting and keeping experienced, dedicated employees in Willis ISD is good for students, and it's a responsible use of District resources."