Leander - Liberty Hill | December 2023

Education

LISD sta to receive retention payment

New high school bell schedule proposed Liberty Hill High School may adopt a new bell schedule next school year. What you need to know Almost 50% of respondents voted to switch to an A/B block schedule in a survey of 63 Liberty Hill High School sta. Under the new schedule, students would attend four 90-minute classes each day on an alternating basis instead of eight 45-minute classes. Sta members provided feedback that an A/B schedule would allow for: • Fewer transitions each day • More time for lessons and homework • Easier daily workloads District oŠcials will determine how staŠng and costs might be impacted before updating the board in December.

“[LISD sta does] incredible work for our kids every single day. We want to compensate them as best we can. When we have this opportunity, we will take it every time.” BRUCE GEARING, LEANDER ISD SUPERINTENDENT

The Leander ISD board of trustees unani- mously approved distributing one-time lump sum retention payments of $1,000 to full-time employees and $500 to part-time employees at a Nov. 9 meeting. All active employees with the district as of Nov. 17, including auxiliary sta and teacher fellows, are eligible to receive the payments Dec. 22, while temporary employees and substi- tutes are excluded. The impact The payments are intended to help reduce turnover, retain sta and improve employee morale, according to the resolution. Over the last couple of years, the district has experienced staŠng shortages among teachers and sta, such as bus drivers and crossing guards.

How we got here The move comes after the board approved a $12.75 million compensation plan in May raising pay for full-time employees by 4% for the 2023- 24 school year. The plan authorized Gearing to recommend a one-time lump sum retention pay- ment to the board depending on what funding it received from the Texas Legislature. While Gearing said the district has seen little action from the state, a surplus from last school year’s budget has allowed the district to provide $5.5 million in one-time payments to employees.

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