Board approves special-education retention bonuses after administrator presents multi-year gains

The Burlington Community School District board on April 27 approved continuation of a retention bonus program for special-education staff, voting to pay $1,500 to Strat 1 positions and $4,000 to Strat 2 positions.

Lacey Johnson, who presented the proposal to the board, said the district has used retention bonuses since 2023 to stabilize staffing. Johnson told the board the retention rate improved from 70% (returning 2023→24) to 90% (returning 2024→25) and was 87% for the most recent year, and that the district can fund the payments out of special-education categorical dollars. "We are finally fully staffed, which is wonderful for the first time in many years," Johnson said.

Board member [mover] moved to approve the bonuses as presented; another member seconded. The motion passed by voice vote with all members responding "aye." The board did not record a roll-call tally in the public minutes.

The administration said the state offers mechanisms to request additional spending authority for special-education costs if needed, and emphasized the funding source for the bonuses is the special-education categorical fund rather than the general fund.

The decision takes effect for the upcoming budget period as presented; the board did not attach additional conditions or a sunset date to the payments at the meeting. The district will notify affected staff of the approved amounts and the funding source.

What’s next: the board approved the motion during the meeting and the administration will implement the payments according to the district’s payroll and categorical-fund procedures.