Boerne ISD staffers to receive ‘longevity’ stipend
Boerne ISD employees will receive one-time bonuses heading into the holiday season -- $1,500 for teachers, and $1,000 for paraprofessionals, auxiliary, professional and support staff -- after a unanimous vote from the Boerne ISD board of trustees Monday.
Administration recommended the bonus, billed as a “longevity stipend,” for employees who have been with the district for at least 30 days before the Oct. 23 board meeting. The stipend is the largest in the district's history.
“This has been in the works for a while,” Bryan Benway, Boerne ISD director of communications, said following the meeting. “After giving nearly a 3.5% raise to all employees at the start of the school year, we are excited to announce the largest longevity stipend in BISD history to our hardworking and dedicated staff,” Boerne ISD Superintendent Dr. Thomas Price said. “Not knowing what the Texas Legislature will do during the current special session, and considering this time of unprecedented inflation, we wanted to ensure our staff received a longevity stipend during the holidays, in addition to the raise at the beginning of the year.”
The stipends will be passed out December 1, in time for holiday preparation as the district goes on winter break following December 15’s early release date.
Board President Carlin Friar said retention of employees remains a constant goal of the board.
“One of our top priorities as a school district is to attract and retain the best staff possible to educate our students,” Friar said. “Last year’s operating surplus allowed the district to adopt a deficit this year that takes care of our employees and helps the board be fiscally responsible.”
The longevity stipend, on top of the almost 3.5% raise that was given at the start of the school year, “shows our staff that we appreciate their hard work and dedication towards our students,” Friar said.
The stipend will cost the district $1.71 million which comes out of the $4.9 million year-end balance left at the conclusion of the 202223 school year.
“That $1,000 will really benefit custodians, bus drivers, those support staffers who could really use that money at that time,” Benway said.
Boerne teachers will receive the $1,500; all other district non-teaching staff except for Superintendent Price, will receive the $1,000 stipend.
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