Teachers and principals at Austin ISD schools participating in AISD REACH, the district’s strategic compensation initiative, recently earned an additional $442,500 in bonuses for working in high-needs schools.
“As a former principal, I know how hard teachers and principals work to boost achievement at their schools,” said Sheila Anderson, who heads up administrative programs for AISD REACH. “These bonuses go a long way to show that the extra effort is appreciated and we hope it will help teachers at our pilots’ highest-needs schools stay committed to their campuses for many years to come.”
AISD’s first round of payouts to teachers for the development of student learning objectives and novice teacher mentoring went out in July. This, the second payout, went out Oct. 31. The next round of payouts will be made in the next few months and will be based on schoolwide growth on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test.
Half of all U.S. college students report that they would accept a higher-paying job offer over a job that offers more career satisfaction in order to repay their student loans.
According to the 2008 Student Loan Survey by Experience, Inc., a career services provider, nearly a third of college students said their student loan debt affected their decision to pursue a particular career. Close to two-thirds reported that they would be more likely to accept a job that offers loan assistance or repayment.
HR professionals say that employers who offer benefits that ease student loan burdens will win the competition for talented employees. Some examples include paid internships, scholarships, and loan assistance.
—“Half of College Students Would Choose Salary over Career Satisfaction,” by Stephen Miller, Society for Human Resource Management Web site, October 2008.
Ninety-six percent of Lancaster ISD’s (LISD) employees agreed to accept salary cuts to help avert a budget deficit that could result in layoffs. The salary cuts will save the district more than $500,000.
The district blames its $1.5 million budget deficit on student enrollment that fell short of LISD’s projections. State funding is based on enrollment.
Employees had to sign revised contracts reducing their pay in October. The pay of those who didn’t sign won’t be cut. A state-appointed conservator sent to oversee district finances said that the high acceptance rate of employees takes pressure off the district to lay people off.
The salary cuts will be taken from raises. Administrators agreed to forfeit their 4 percent raise. Teachers and support staff will give up half of their 4 to 5 percent raises.
The district had already reduced the budget by more than $860,000 by cutting campus supplies and district-issued cellphones, eliminating vacant positions, and reducing its use of subtitutes.
—“96% in Lancaster ISD accept pay cut to ease deficit,” from staff reports, The Dallas Morning News, Oct. 25, 2008.
