The Coronavirus Assistance and Recognition of Effort Stipend, or FISD C.A.R.E.S., was unanimously approved by the board of trustees at a June 8 meeting. The board was first presented information about the stipend in May.
The stipend aims to assist FISD employees who used personal equipment and supplies during COVID-19 closures and recognizes efforts made during the transition into eLearning.
FISD C.A.R.E.S. awards 1.5% of an eligible employee’s base wages, according to district documents. To be eligible, staff must have been employed in budgeted, allocated positions with FISD on April 1 through May 28.
No additional revenue will need to be generated to fund the stipends due to a “significant” surplus from all 72 campuses being closed the past two months, per district documents. The total cost of the stipends is estimated at $6.4 million, according to the district.
"I'm so pleased that we were able to do something like this to show our appreciation because you all have done what I didn't think was possible," board member Rene Archambault said at the meeting. "To be able to build up a district in 24 hours and get 63,000 kids learning again has been just a remarkable thing to watch."
