School Employees To Get Bonus In Anne Arundel County For Extra Work During Pandemic

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — Anne Arundel County Public School employees will get a $1,000 bonus for their increased workload during the COVID-19 pandemic, officials announced last Friday.

“I could not be more proud of our team and of the unrelenting dedication to students they have shown in the face of circumstances no one could have anticipated,” Superintendent George Arlotto said in a press release. “In every school and office throughout our system, the members of our AACPS family have done far more than the public will ever see to propel our students forward. These bonuses are one small way to acknowledge that incredible work.”

The money will come from federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief grants. The Maryland State Department of Education must approve the school system's grant application amendment, which included the bonuses, before workers get the money.

The bonuses will come in two installments. The first payment is tentatively scheduled for March 10. The second is penciled in for June 30.

“Our Board and Dr. Arlotto have continually attempted to do what we could to convey our appreciation to our amazing employees,” Board of Education President Joanna Tobin said. “The pandemic has not been an easy road for anyone, and our employees have been shining stars since the outset.”

Workers must remain active to be eligible. Full-time permanent employees will get the entire bonus. Permanent workers whose full-time equivalency is less than 0.75 will collect a prorated bonus.

AACPS negotiated the agreements with its four affiliated unions. The deal with the Teachers Association of Anne Arundel County also includes pay for teachers who cover classes for absent colleagues.

“Educators have worked tirelessly to cover classes or groups of students for their peers who were absent due to shortages of substitute teachers," teacher's union President Russell Leone said in a statement. "Both staff shortages and educator absences have increased over the last two years, causing educators to lose critical planning time, increase duties and responsibilities, and more. This agreement is a first step toward moderating and compensating for increases to our workload."

Employees similarly earned two hours of personal wellness time in December, and the school system cut their work year by one day without trimming pay. AACPS permitted teachers and other school-based staff to work remotely on Monday's semester break day. The school board is exploring more ways to reduce workloads and create extra wellness time for its employees.

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