At Monday’s meeting,  the Marshalltown School Board approved a retention bonus payment plan for current district staff members.

Marshalltown School Superintendent Theron Schutte, who joined the meeting via zoom, presented the board with a proposal similar to one drafted earlier by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds that would allow for school employees who meet certain criteria to receive a retention bonus.

In order to qualify for the bonus, all teachers under contract during the 2021-22 school year would be required to tech in person  and they would need to be classified as a full-time school employee.

Certain provisions such as school counselors, teacher-librarians. and special education behavioral strategists, as well as hourly employees would be excluded from the payment plan.

A proposal was offered by Schutte whereby a full-time staff who were employed by the district prior to October 1, 2021 who complete their contract for the current school year would receive a retention payment of $1,000 using elementary and secondary school emergency relief funds.  Any part-time staff meeting the same requirements  would be given a prorated payment under Schutte’s proposal.

Schutte further requested that the board authorize a similar payment during the 2022-23 school year for full-time employees who received the initial payment and elected to stay with the Marshalltown Community School District, assuming the Esser Funds are still available for that purpose.

The board approved the recommended payment plan for the current school year, with a similar payment option also being approved for district staff for the next school year.