Board approves years-of-service stipend program for support staff; administration to pay stipends at fiscal-year end

The Germantown School Board approved a years-of-service stipend program for support staff at its April 28 meeting after a positive recommendation from the personnel committee. The program recognizes longevity milestones and is intended as one element of a multi-year support-staff compensation review.

District staff told the board the stipend matrix was developed after a compensation study and engagement with support staff (including food service, aides, custodial, maintenance, administrative assistants and other non-certified employees). The stipend schedule recognizes years of service at milestone intervals (3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 years). Administration said the packet included the specific dollar amounts for each tier; stipends will be paid at the completion of the fiscal year (example: paid 06/30/2026 based on years of service at that date) and are calculated on a 1.0 full-time-equivalent basis.

Personnel committee members said the district is generally aligned with comparable districts and that the stipend program is one step alongside other compensation work already underway. Board discussion noted this is an incremental step and that the district will continue to evaluate compensation practices for support staff.

Conflict disclosure and vote: one board member announced an abstention from the vote citing a family member employed in a support-staff role; the remainder of the board approved the measure by voice vote.

Next steps: administration will implement the stipend process, update handbook or payroll documentation as needed, and monitor outcomes as part of the district’s broader compensation work.