SPRING, Texas – The Spring ISD Board of Trustees on Tuesday approved a comprehensive employee retention and incentive package for the 2022-23 school year – including a $2,000 retention stipend and two additional wellness days.
“The last two years have been a difficult road for educators – not only in our district but nationwide. It’s been a challenge to recruit and retain staff, and Spring ISD is no different,” Spring ISD Superintendent Dr. Lupita Hinojosa said. “That is why it has been of the utmost importance to myself and our Board of Trustees to prioritize a competitive recruitment and retention package that rewards those who are currently or are considering becoming a part of Spring ISD.”
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The measure aims to reward staff for their work throughout the challenges of the pandemic, as well as offer an incentive to retain current employees and recruit new teachers to the district. In addition to the retention stipend and additional wellness days, teachers – both current and prospective – have the opportunity to earn new targeted incentives based on performance, as well as incentives already in place under the district’s Spring Rewards program.
“As a Board, we recognize the hardships brought on by the pandemic and the need to provide our teachers and staff with much-needed economic relief in the midst of very challenging times,” said Board of Trustees President Justine Durant. “We appreciate the administration’s work in developing this plan, which will support and help the valuable members of Team Spring to continue the work of helping our students flourish and develop into the strong leaders of tomorrow.”
The series of incentives for employees as approved by the Board is outlined below.
All current Spring ISD employees will receive:
- $2,000 retention stipend which can, for example, be used to help offset increasing costs.
- All current employees who return in 2022-23 will be eligible
- Paid in (2) installments of $1,000 each
- First payout on Aug. 10 upon return (Deducted from final paycheck if employee leaves the district before Dec. 2, 2022)
- Second payout on Jan. 10 (Deducted from final paycheck if employee leaves before March 13, 2023)
- Two additional wellness days
- Wellness days will be added to leave bank concurrently with other 2022-23 leave days
Current teachers can also benefit from an additional performance incentive, including:
- Teacher Effectiveness Incentive designed to reward core content teachers:
· with a T-TESS Evaluation Rating of “Proficient” or above, and
· whose student performance data on STAAR or EOC examinations meets the following criteria:
· 50% of their students meet grade level standard or
· 50% of their students meet growth measure
For these teachers, the monetary incentive will be as follows:
· 1-2 years of service: $2,000*
· 3-5 years of service: $3,500*
· 6+ years of service: $5,000*
*Incentives listed are in addition to stipends, rewards and reimbursements offered under the Spring Rewards program.
New Spring ISD teachers are eligible for the following incentives:
A new recruitment incentive that will serve to attract and hire the best teachers available, both in Texas and throughout the country. We will reward core content teachers:
· with a T-TESS Evaluation Rating of “Proficient” or above, and
· whose student performance data on STAAR or EOC examinations meets the following criteria:
· 50% of their students meet grade level standard or
· 50% of their students meet growth measure
For those new hires evaluated with a different statewide accountability system, an out-of-state equivalent measure will be utilized. New teachers who meet this target will receive two wellness days and the following monetary incentives.
· 1-2 years: $2,000
· 3-5 years: $3,500
· 6+ years: $5,000