HUNTER DWORACZYK [email protected]
HUTTO — Hutto Independent School District leaders will weigh in on a proposed employee retention incentive next week.
During a Feb. 8 workshop meeting, the district’s administration recommended an incentive plan that will put an extra $350 in every fulltime Hutto ISD employee’s December 2024 paycheck. The retention incentive, which would be expected to be given to about 1,100 employees, costs the district $385,000, if approved.
“Administration brings this to you with cost-savings, but also with an acknowledgment of how important our employees are to us,” said Cara Malone, assistant superintendent of human resources.
Trustees will vote on approval of the districtrecommended retention incentives during the Thursday, Feb. 22 board meeting.
Last year, Hutto ISD gave a $270 stipend for returning full-time employees and another $500 solely for eligible teachers who committed to stay.
Ditching last year’s retention plan, which gave 492 teachers a total of $770 in stipends, will save the district $153,000 under the proposed package.
“I have a hard time with that,” board secretary Shannon Jacobs said. “I understand that the money is tight and all of that, but I’m nervous because I do believe it impacted those 492 teachers who got it and what we’re looking at doing is half of that. That’s really hard.”
During her presentation, Malone pointed out to trustees that a positive of the proposed package is that teachers and employees do not have to fill out any applications.
She said Hutto simply gives it automatically to employees who are employed throughout the entirety of 2024.
“Teachers had to actually complete a process to commit to stay,” Malone said. “It’s also important to note some teachers missed the deadline and just didn’t qualify.”
If trustees approve the district’s incentive plan, part-time employees will receive $175 in the stipend.
Another incentive Malone brought for consideration is the “Welcome Home Incentive,” which gives certain Hutto High School graduates a $500 bonus for joining the district as a staff member recently.
The district had a similar stipend last year, but Malone said Hutto ISD hopes to better advertise it to eligible recipients next year.
In addition, the district administration seeks to expand its referral process to all full-time employees. Employees who refer a teacher who is ultimately hired would receive $500 up to three times.
“I think we all are here for that same reason,” President Billie Logiudice said. “We want to do what’s best for, and what’s right for, teachers and all of our employees. So, the next two weeks we have a lot of things to think about.”
The proposed incentive package also gives signing bonuses to teachers hired in hard to fill areas.
Teachers certified in special education, language other than English and bilingual hired by May 1 will receive $2,000. They will only receive $1,000 if hired by June 1.
