Board approves two‑year financial incentive to recruit eighth‑grade teachers at Monroe Middle School

The Union County Board of Education on March 11 approved a two‑year strategic staffing initiative to recruit eight experienced eighth‑grade teachers to Monroe Middle School, funded through the state ReSTART program and tied to student growth measures.

Board members voted to authorize a targeted recruitment and retention package that would pay participating teachers four staggered $7,500 installments (totaling up to $30,000 across two years) if agreed growth metrics are met. The plan focuses on hiring three math teachers, three English teachers and two science teachers for eighth grade and requires a two‑year commitment from hired teachers.

The superintendent, Dr. Andrew G. Houlihan, said the proposal grew out of the curriculum committee and aims to address vacancies and high turnover at Monroe Middle School, which the district identified as a long‑standing low‑performing school. "When it comes…