The payment was made using the unassigned fund balance in effort to show appreciation to staff members districtwide, according to district documents. Assistant Superintendent for Administration Tamy Smalskas brought the recommendation before the board at a Jan. 22 meeting.
The details
Employees scheduled to work more than 20 hours each week would receive a payment of $653.17, and employees working less than 20 hours would receive $326.59, Smalskas said. In addition to incentivizing continued service, the payment also sought to support cost-of-living increases, district documents show.
The total cost of the one-time supplemental payment is approximately $721,258, according to district documents. The payment will be offset by a surplus in the general fund operating fund balance.
“I wish we could do more,” trustee Andrew Yeager said. “We have not been able, despite four special sessions, and a 15% increase in inflation since the basic allotment in 2019, to get public schools to be funded. This is the least we can do.”
One more thing
The payment was scheduled for disbursement Jan. 31, according to documents. The district hopes the payment demonstrates support of its employees, enhances employee morale and serves as an employee retention incentive, according to the resolution.
The board will consider another payment for district staff closer to the end of the 2023 school year, board President Cameron Bryan said.
“In a perfect world, we would give you just a big fat raise,” Yeager said.
