Richland One board approves $3.2 million midyear incentive and reallocates funds for nursing services

The Richland School District One Board of School Commissioners on Dec. 10 approved a midyear incentive payment for employees and a separate reallocation to cover increased nursing contract costs.

The administration recommended one-time midyear payments of $500 (net) for all current full-time employees and $150 (net) for permanent part-time employees who were employed by Dec. 1, 2024, and said the district estimates the cost at $3,200,000. "The administration requests approval to provide a midyear incentive payment of $500 net to all current full time employees," Finance staff said during the meeting. The board approved the measure after brief questions about eligibility, with the administration confirming hourly employees and long-term substitutes are eligible.

Separately, the board approved reallocation of $341,730 from the FY24-25 general fund vacancy savings to cover increased contracted nursing services caused by unfilled nursing positions. "There are vacancies that were not filled for nursing positions. We will use those vacancies and the dollars amounts that's associated with to fund the contracted services," the administration said when explaining the request.

Commissioners asked why the items were funded via reallocation rather than in the original budget; administration explained such reallocations are common for one-time items when county and state funding fall short. Both items passed on voice votes after motions and seconds from board members.

What happens next

The administration said the midyear payments will be issued on or before Dec. 23, 2024, and that employees must be employed on or before Dec. 1 to be eligible. The district plans to use the identified portion of the general fund balance to cover the payments and the nursing contracts for the current fiscal year.