The Shadow
LOW MOOR, VA (VR) — The Alleghany Highlands School Board has approved a one-time bonus to express its appreciation for school division employees.
The bonus payments were approved by the school board during an Oct. 11, 2022, meeting. The bonus plan includes classified and certified employees who are full-time or part-time. Full-time employees will receive $2,000, and part-time employees will receive $1,000. To qualify, an employee must be employed by Alleghany Highlands Public Schools on Dec. 1, 2022.
The school board approved the bonuses to recognize the hard work of its employees through the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and their commitment to making the recent merger of Alleghany County Public Schools and Covington City Public Schools work for the betterment of students.
“We feel very fortunate to be able to reward our valuable employees for their hard work and dedication, and hopefully provide our local economy with a boost during the holiday season,” said Jacob Wright, chair of the Alleghany Highlands School Board.
Money for the bonuses will come from funds provided by the Virginia General Assembly, and the federal American Recovery Plan Act. The bonuses will cost approximately $1,123,300. The school board will use a $307,491 allocation from the state for bonuses for positions funded in accordance with the state’s Standards of Quality, with the remaining balance covered by ARPA funds associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Federal guidelines now allow ARPA funds to be used for workforce stabilization. AHPS, like other school divisions across the nation, has encountered problems in filling vacant essential positions.
In approving a state budget in May, the General Assembly provided money to give teachers salary increases over two years, plus a $1,000 bonus in the first year. The state money covers Standards of Quality-funded positions in school divisions. AHPS leadership recommended that the school board provide bonuses to all full-time and part-time employees. Division leaders noted that it was not the historic practice of Alleghany County Public Schools, Covington City Public Schools and
Jackson River Technical Center to provide bonus and incentives only to SOQ-funded positions, which are 54 percent of the AHPS workforce.
“Simply put, we are excited to be able to encourage our team in this way. We are thankful for all the AHPS staff does each day for the kids of our community,” said Superintendent Kim Halterman.
Part-time employees are included in the bonus plan, but substitutes are in a different employment category and they will not receive a bonus. However, in recognizing the value of substitutes, the school board voted in September to increase many substitute pay rates. The adjustment reflected a 33 percent increase in most daily rates paid to substitutes.
