Dalton Public Schools employees in Dalton, Georgia, will get an additional $1,000 when they are paid this month.
The board of education voted to approve a one-time $1,000 supplement for all district employees at its meeting on Monday. Matt Evans, board chairman, said it was a way of thanking teachers and staff for their dedication and hard work throughout the pandemic.
"Any time we can give staff a little extra money - I know nobody is in it for the money and that it is a calling that y'all have, but it helps, obviously - and I just hope our staff would hear that this team really thinks it's our fundamental business to support you as front-line teachers, touching kids lives each and every day, meeting them where they are and hopefully helping them all get closer to their God-given potential," Evans said.
Theresa Perry, Dalton Public Schools' chief financial officer, said the $1,000 will be a "one-time supplement" paid with November's end-of-month payroll. Perry said the district considered a separate check run to get the payments out sooner but decided against it to avoid higher taxes on recipients.
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Employees who don't work full time will receive a prorated payment based on part-time status, Perry said.
The total cost to Dalton Public Schools will be about $1.2 million, with portions of that money coming from the general fund and others coming from federal COVID-19 relief funds.
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"We're estimating over $567,000 from the fund balance as well as our Cares 3 or American Rescue Plan money," Perry said. "School nutrition has some funds available to cover some employees, and then pre-K has some funds available."
The board approved the payments, 5-0.
"We've talked about the stressful time it has been in the pandemic and the incredible job our employees do. The board has talked about that," Evans said. "We just want to say thank you. We really appreciate you."
Contact Kelcey Caulder at kcaulder@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6327. Follow her on Twitter @kelceycaulder.