GALVESTON, Texas – The Galveston Independent School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously to award employees under a proposed Employee Retention Incentive Plan at Wednesday night’s regular board meeting. Under the plan, those employed by GISD on May 31, 2012 and currently employed for the 2012-2013 school year will receive a one-time payment as a thank you for returning staff members. Full-time salaried employees will receive $500 and full-time hourly employees will receive $300; part-time staff that work 180 school days will have their retention incentive pro-rated.

“The purpose of this plan is to recognize the hard work and dedication of our staff members,” said Superintendent of Schools Larry Nichols. “The Board wanted to show their gratitude for our staff doing more with less. I couldn’t be more pleased to give this token of appreciation to our staff.”

The Board also voted unanimously to approve a proposed Employee Attendance Incentive Plan to award staff with perfect attendance throughout the year. Each full-time salaried employee will be awarded $100 for each six-weeks that they are present and performing their assigned responsibilities 100 percent of the days with no provisions for the excused absences. Full-time hourly employees will be eligible for $60 per six-weeks grading period for 100 percent attendance.

First proposed at a budget workshop by the Trustees, the Employee Retention Incentive Plan will be paid through the 2012-2013 school year budget and will cost $400,000. Staff will be paid before the Thanksgiving holidays. The attendance incentive will cost up to $175,000 and will be paid for through a reduction in the substitute budget.