BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. – The Berkeley County Board of Education accepted recommendations of BCSD administrators at Tuesday’s regular meeting to provide one-time incentives to all employees and an additional incentive to Special Education teachers and assistants.
An original proposal would have provided each BCSD employee a $2,500 incentive and each special education teacher or assistant an additional $2,000.
District 1 representative Michael Ramsey was first to speak on the proposal. He quickly recommended a higher number.
“Five-thousand dollars for all employees and an additional $2,500 for special education teachers and assistants – I’d like us to consider that scenario,” Ramsey said.
Board Chairman Mac McQuillin said several board members reached out to Superintendent Dr. Anthony Dixon with specific numbers in mind, prior to the regular board meeting. McQuillin publicly thanked Ramsey, District 6 Rep. Sally Wofford, District 4 Rep. Kathy Littleton and District 3 Rep. Joe Baker for their support of the incentives.
“I know it was originally $2,500, and I appreciate y’all doubling down, literally doubling the money amount,” McQuillin said. “We’re putting our money where our mouth is.”
All employees employed through May 20, 2023 are eligible for the incentives. The $5,000 incentive is the largest issued by BCSD in recent years, and perhaps ever, school district officials said.
Several members of the Board and Superintendent Dixon also made attempts to ensure members of the public understand that the approved incentives would not be the only approaches to recruiting and retaining employees.
“I do prefer raises to incentives, and I believe we should do significant raises as well, but this money is in this year, and so we have to expend the money in this year. We want to expend it on employees,” Wofford said.
BCSD administrators and the Board are expected to review additional salary increases as a part of the 2023-2024 budget process. The next budget workshop is expected to be held in early May.
“These funds will be provided to our employees on May 30th, but our work to ensure they know how much we value them will extend far beyond that date,” Superintendent Dixon said. “Finding additional ways to support our employees has to be an integral part of our commitment to teaching and learning and our goal of making a positive difference in Berkeley County.”
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