Staff Bonus, Higher Bus Driver Pay Approved By FCPS School Board

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — As Fairfax County Public Schools continues to address a bus driver shortage, a pay increase was approved by the School Board Thursday as part of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) funding. A staff bonus for all FCPS employees was approved through fiscal year 2021 budget adjustments.

The staff bonus provides $1,000 for full-time employees and hourly contracted employees, including bus drivers and food service workers. A $500 will be given to temporary hourly employees.

The one-time bonus is part of the revenue and expenditure adjustments to the fiscal year 2021 budget approved by the School Board. The one-time bonus costs $32.7 million and will be paid out in late November.

The School Board also approved the ESSER III funding, federal funds provided to school districts from the American Rescue Plan. Funds are intended to go toward safe reopening of schools. The spending plan totals $188.6 million.

The majority of ESSER III spending to FCPS will address learning loss and students' academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs. Academic and social-emotional learning supports will account for $170 million of the spending plan.

Remaining funds will go toward COVID-19 prevention and mitigation strategies as well as communication, technology, transportation, program management, and school monitors.

The funding for school bus drivers increases the starting pay to $22.91. A recruiting bonus of $3,000 is also provided to new hires. FCPS started the school year anticipating bus delays due to the driver shortage.