Bonuses Approved For Cherokee Schools Employees

CANTON, GA — The Cherokee School Board on Thursday approved a budget amendment to accept state funding for eligible part-time and full-time staff to receive a one-time bonus.

Gov. Brian Kemp on Wednesday signed into law a mid-year budget amendment that provides bonus funding and which provides school districts with the state funding lost for this year due to “austerity budget cuts.” The state provides bonus funding for about 4,000 of the district’s 5,100 part-time and full-time employees, based on the state funding formula, to receive $2,000 bonuses. The state does not provide bonus funding for the district's additional nearly 2,000 employees, including temporary workers and substitute teachers.

Superintendent Brian Hightower told the school board that he and his staff will review the state funding information, which was received Thursday morning, and make a recommendation at the April school board meeting for how the bonuses should be distributed as part of the April payroll.

In the past, the school board has used local funds to expand state bonuses to all part-time and full-time employees, and, during the pandemic, has additionally provided bonuses to temporary workers including substitutes based on days worked. The influx of $9.4 million in restored state funding withheld through “austerity budget cuts” could make such a bonus expansion possible, he added.

“Our teachers and support staff have shown us over the past two years that they can overcome incredible challenges,” Hightower said. “They are not as dedicated as they are because of a paycheck - there are much easier and more lucrative jobs out there. They are dedicated because they love their work, and they love our kids. When we do have the means to financially reward all of our employees for a job well done, I strongly believe we should, and that will be my recommendation next month.”