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Board approves memoranda of understanding including $30,000 residency stipends and cooperating-teacher pay
Summary
The Schenectady City School District Board of Education voted to approve consent agenda MOUs that include a $30,000 stipend for participants in a New York State teacher residency program and a $2,000 cooperating‑teacher stipend, with the participant stipend funded by grant dollars and the cooperating‑teacher stipend funded from the district general fund.
The Schenectady City School District Board of Education voted to approve consent agenda items that include memoranda of understanding (MOUs) establishing stipends tied to a new teacher residency program and continuing stipends for social development staff.
The board approved a MOU to host teacher residents through a New York State residency program that will include a $30,000 stipend to each resident; Shannon (Assistant Superintendent for Professional Learning and Human Resources) said the $30,000 participant stipend is paid from grant funds. Shannon also told the board the cooperating teacher who mentors each resident would receive a $2,000 stipend; she said that amount is paid from the district general fund.
Why it matters: district leaders framed the residency MOU as a recruitment tool for shortage areas. Shannon said five residents began full‑year placements in September and the program “is actually serving as a great recruitment tool.” Board members asked whether the stipend creates a hiring obligation; Shannon replied there is no contractual obligation that residents must stay but that many do choose to remain.
Board members also approved continued stipends for staff who run social development programming: $1,000 for social development assignments and $1,000 for staff who earn and maintain Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) certification. Shannon said the social development stipends are in their second year and that some funding may be covered by grants where eligible, with the remainder from the general fund.
Questions from board members focused on funding sources and program scale. One member asked whether the $30,000 paid to residents is grant funded; Shannon answered, “Yes. It’s out of our grant.” Another asked whether the $2,000 cooperating‑teacher stipend is grant funded; Shannon answered, “That’s not grant money. That’s actually out of our general fund.” Shannon said the district currently has five residents and that the stipend commitment for cooperating teachers for this year totals $10,000 from the budget.
The board registered general support for the MOUs and moved the items as part of the consent agenda. The chair called for a voice vote on items A through H; the motion carried. The board will return to any items that require further committee review if needed.
Ending: Board members who asked about long‑term budget impacts were told staff will continue to report on grant eligibility and general‑fund impacts as the programs run.
