The Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD board of trustees on Sept. 21 amended the 2021-22 Employment Compensation Package and approved new positions for the 2021-22 school year.

In the compensation package, the board moved to increase the emergency bus driver pay. This pay is for commercial driver's license holders that drive school buses in unfilled driving slots. Formerly, the compensation was set at $12 per hour and was increased to $25 per hour.

The board also approved a transportation referral payment of $500 to any SCUCISD employee who refers bus drivers and monitors that become successfully employed and continue to work for SCUCISD for 30 workdays.

SCUCISD has around 34 positions for bus drivers and 10 positions for bus monitors, which is 33% below normal capacity.

New licensed specialists in school psychology and diagnostician positions

Under recent changes to the Dyslexia Handbook, the district will look for two additional licensed specialists in school psychology and/or diagnosticians.

Chief Human Resources Officer Linda Canon explained that students tested for dyslexia would have to go through a full evaluation in the special education department to look for any other disabilities that may occur.

“With those recent changes, we are seeing more of a load on our LSSPs and the diagnostician staff that will take place this fall,” Cannon said.

The board hopes to fill the two positions this school year to help alleviate the strain on staff.

Superintendent Clark Ealy said LSSPs and diagnosticians working in the district would have the opportunity to be paid for additional evaluations after hours. Volunteers would receive a compensation of $600 per assessment.

“This is something that they would be volunteering for and not be conscripted into service,” Ealy said.