HUTTO – “Recognition is nice but money is nicer,” as the saying goes, and Hutto Independent School District trustees put that to the vote with $62,000 in teacher incentives at the May 11 meeting.
The district approved monetary bonuses for those who have reached a five-year milestone of continuous employment in the district during the 2022-23 school year. The bonuses will be awarded in June.
“These numbers are not easy especially with the budget that we have currently but it’s a statement and and a reminder that this board truly is behind them,” said board member Terrence Owens.
Cara Malone, assistant superintendent of Human Resources, brought an initial proposal for $30,250 in longevity stipends to the board April 27, but the board requested a more robust plan. Malone returned with a new recommendation that included more teachers and larger amounts.
The approved plan calls for teachers who are celebrating their fifth year in the district to receive a $250 stipend and those celebrating their tenth to receive a $500 stipend. Amounts increase for every additional five-year anniversary up to $2,250 for those who have served 30 years and beyond.
Only teachers who are celebrating a five-year increment will receive the bonus this year, a total of 131. That leaves the majority of teachers waiting another year or more to receive the bonus, including 19 teachers with over 20 years of experience each.
“I want to remind the board that this is the first time we’ve done this,” said Superintendent Celina Estrada Thomas. “We’ve never done this before and we have to start somewhere. Our recommendation is to start with the five-year increment and if we can afford to do it we should consider doing it annually.”
Chief Financial Officer Glenn Graham also recommended making the stipend an annual award.
Teacher Longevity Stipend Amounts Approved for 2022-23 School Year
5 year anniversary (66 teachers) - $250.00
10 year anniversary (39 teachers) - $500.00
15 year anniversary (19 teachers) - $750.00
20 year anniversary (3 teachers) - $1,250.00
25 year anniversary (2 teachers) - $1,750.00
30 year anniversary (2 teachers) - $2,250.00
Every fifth year after 30 (0 teachers) - $2,250.00
