As an expression of gratitude and appreciation, the Leander ISD Board of Trustees approved a retention incentive payment during its Thursday, Dec. 8 meeting.
This retention payment was made possible by Board action in May 2022, when the Board placed parameters of 1) setting a tax rate to initiate a Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE) of at least 9 pennies and 2) passing that VATRE.
The Board recognized our staff is providing critical needs at a time when teachers are leaving the profession and work has evolved with more complex responsibilities, training and duties.
“Do I wish we could do more? Of course,” said Board Vice President Gloria Gonzales-Dholakia, Ph.D. “The reality is what our budget can afford. We so appreciate and value the work of our teachers and staff amidst the wide range of challenges seen in recent years.”
Staff employed with the district on November 18, 2022 who meet eligibility criteria will receive $1,000 for full-time and $500 for part-time employees, with the inclusion of crossing guards as part of the latter. Funds will be paid out this month, December 2022.
Addressing the staffing shortages in Special Education, the district plans to recommend a separate, additional one-time lump sum retention payment for special education staff in January.
The district will also continue to monitor the budget through the spring semester. If at the end of the fiscal year the fund balance is expected to increase, then administration may come back to the Board with a recommendation for an additional one-time lump sum retention payment.
