Sumter School District to extend bonus to all employees in fall
‘Retention stipend’ is $1,000 for full-time teachers and staff; $500 for part-time
Sumter School District will be extending another bonus in the fall for returning teachers and staff as well as new hires.
Superintendent Penelope Martin-Knox announced the measure that will pay a $1,000 bonus, or “retention stipend,” to all returning full-time teachers and staff and $500 to all returning part-time staff in the fall. New hires will also receive the same amounts, based on whether they are full time or part-time.
Martin-Knox made the announcement Monday night at the district’s board of trustees’ regularly scheduled monthly work session at Sumter High School.
The stipend amounts are for teachers, bus drivers, food-service workers and all other employees, regardless of classification.
Employees will see the payments during the fall, similar to the retention stipend that was paid in October of last year. It was just for different amounts.
District Chief Financial Officer said Tuesday that $2.4 million has been budgeted to pay for the stipends.
Martin-Knox made the announcement after Miller presented the General Fund Financial Report through March 31, which projects the district increasing its fund balance as of June 30, 2022, by $1.2 million. That net income total still includes the $2.4 million expense for the bonuses.
Read Wednesday's edition of The Item for a complete story.