School board approves $1,000 staff bonus pending state budget approval

The Colonial Heights School Board voted Tuesday to extend a one-time $1,000 bonus—identified by presenters as the amount the General Assembly plans to provide for teachers—to all division staff, contingent on the state budget finalization. The board’s presenter said, “As we discussed in our budget work sessions, the General Assembly has indicated that they're going to provide funding for a $1,000 bonus for teachers, and we are planning to extend that to all of our staff.” That presentation said the division assumes the state budget will be approved on May 2 and that eligible employees employed under contract on May 30 would receive the payment around June 2. Board discussion included questions about prorating for staff who began employment mid-year. The presenter described a prorate schedule presented to the board: staff hired halfway through the year (January) would be eligible for $500; hires in March would be eligible for $250; hires after the first quarter (October) were described in the presentation as eligible for $7.50. The board approved the bonus plan in a roll-call vote. The board did not commit local funds beyond administering the payment; presenters said the division expects to receive the state funds and to disburse them as described. The board asked staff to proceed with implementation steps so payments could be made promptly if the state appropriation is finalized. Board action and vote: A motion to approve the bonus plan passed with members voting in the affirmative. The motion text as recorded was to approve extension of the $1,000 bonus to all eligible staff, with eligibility and payment timing contingent on the state budget. The presenter said payments would be made "on and around June 2."