While consistently among the highest in the state and area for teacher pay and proudly a frequent recipient of the Aiken Standard’s “Best Places to Work,” Aiken County Public Schools, like all school districts throughout the nation, has been impacted by the Teacher Shortage. Recent board-approved bonuses aim to help the District retain its high-quality teachers and staff and attract new educators and employees to fill existing vacancies and support the district’s mission to ensure all students thrive.
At its December 13, 2022, regularly-scheduled Board of Education Meeting, trustees approved a pay increase to a number of employees serving students with disabilities. Employees eligible for the pay increase of $1 per hour include Special Education (SPED) school bus drivers, SPED bus monitors, SPED aides, and SPED positions paid on the Support IV and Support VI pay scales. SPED aides and SPED positions paid on the Support IV and VI pay scales received their increase on the February 2, 2023, pay check; SPED transportation staff, including SPED drivers and monitors, will see their increased pay beginning with the March 3, 2023, pay check.
“Recognizing that transporting medically-fragile students and assisting students with special needs throughout the day requires additional levels of responsibility and care, the increase in pay was intended to incentivize current employees to maintain employment serving students with disabilities and to help recruit new employees,” explained Jennifer Hart, Chief Officer of Human Resources and Administration.
To recognize and reward, and in an effort to retain the District’s educator professionals, trustees also approved a bonus for teachers. All teachers and employees serving in State Department of Education step-required positions (JROTC Instructors, School Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, and School Nurses) who complete the 2022-23 school year and plan to return for the 2023-24 school year, will receive a $1,000 bonus. Returning contract Teachers, JROTC Instructors, and School Psychologists will receive their bonus by June 9, 2023, other step-required eligible employees will receive theirs by August 9, 2023.
The new year brought a renewed spirit for recruiting teachers to serve in the areas of highest need. At its January 10, 2023, meeting, trustees approved the largest hiring incentive in District history, a $10,000 bonus for newly-hired certified educators for the 2023-24 school year to work in the areas of Special Education, Middle & Secondary School Math, and Middle & Secondary School Science when agreeing to a three-year commitment with Aiken County Public Schools.
“Thirty-one of 42 current classroom vacancies are in these areas and remain our most challenging certification areas for recruitment,” Hart detailed. “Our teachers and staff have been flexible and worked together to minimize the impact of these vacancies. We simply have to give our teachers some relief and fill these critical roles, though, and hope that this bonus will help us do that.”
In addition to the above, step increases and cost of living adjustments will be considered as the school board sets its 2023-24 budget. Mid-year pay scale increases and bonuses would not impact an employee’s eligibility for a step or cost of living increase, if approved during the budget season.
“We appreciate the dedication of our teachers and staff,” District Superintendent King Laurence commented. “We’ll continue to look for ways to reward and recognize the team that’s helping ACPSD reach new horizons.”
The District’s Spring MEGA Hiring Event is being held Saturday, February 4, at Aiken High School. Individuals interested in working with Aiken County Public Schools will have the opportunity to connect with representatives from the District’s more than 40 schools and offices, participate in onsite interviews and, if selected, receive an on-the-spot job offer for a current position or a position starting in the 2023-24 school year. Pre-registration for Saturday’s Hiring Event by completing an application online at www.acpsd.net is recommended, although walk-ins are welcome as well.
LINK TO DISTRICT PRESS RELEASE: PR RECRUITING AND RETAINING THE VERY BEST