DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — There's great news for teachers working in DeKalb County. The county school board approved $41 million in incentive bonuses that will be distributed starting this semester.
“DeKalb is looking to retain and attract personnel from bus drivers, cafeteria workers, custodians, teachers, paraprofessionals, principals, etc,” said Verdaillia Turner with the Georgia Federation of Teachers.
District leaders are hoping this move will help with retention.
“You’ve heard Dr. Ward Smith talk about the number of hires that have happened over the past few months, but the increasing number of resignations. So, we are hopeful that this next agenda item would help us to stop the bleed in some form," DeKalb Interim Superintendent Dr. Vasanne Tinsley said. "We want our employees to know they are valued. We want our employees to know that we want them to stay with us."
The board approved three separate bonuses.
The first would be distributed in February, giving $1,000 to everyone hired before Oct. 1, 2022. The payment drops to $500 for those hired after that date and $250 for subs.
The second incentive is a $500 payment that will be issued in May. It's for those who miss less than two days of work during the spring semester.
Deborah Jones, president of the Organization of DeKalb Educators, said the third retention incentive ranges from $2,000 to 4,000. It's for teachers who relocate to schools in areas many are reluctant to go.
“People who would move from areas 1, 2, 3, and 4 over to 5, 6, and 7 and that’s because in those areas they don’t have the teacher manpower they need to teach our children,” Jones said.
That incentive does require a two-year commitment. Turner said rewarding school employees for their hard work is a step in the right direction.
"It’s due, personnel has earned it,” Turner added.