TEXARKANA - Teachers in the Liberty-Eylau Independent School District will have some extra cash for the holidays, thanks to its Trustees.
Trustees visited teachers on all L-E campuses Tuesday morning to pass out appreciation letters and let them know they will have bonuses directly deposited into their accounts.
In an October meeting, the board approved a measure to give out bonuses to teachers and those in supportive roles, due to the amount of work that has been on their collective plates since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Teachers who deal directly with students, including librarians, nurses, academic advisers and counselors, will be receiving $1,000 bonuses. Others in supportive roles who work with students, but not face-to-face every day, will receive $550 bonuses. Custodians, maintenance and cafeteria workers also got $550.
This increases the L-EISD budget by approximately $250,000.
Superintendent Ronnie Thompson said it's least the district could do for a group of teachers who have effectively been pulling double duty since March.
"The struggles of dealing with the virtual side and in-person have been tough on teachers and other staff," Thompson said. "Learning a new way of educating students virtually - when you don't have them in front of you where they can ask questions - that's tough, and that puts them at a disadvantage. It's definitely an adaptation."
Thompson said these adaptations may have caused teachers to sacrifice some of their family time, so they wanted to reward them to help with some of the expenses the holiday season can bring.
Nancy Guest, a Kindergarten teacher at the L-E Early Childhood Center, expressed some of the challenges of teaching during such an unprecedented year.
"We plan for in-class instruction and our virtual students every day," Guest said. "And that is a challenge. I've had a couple of students out this week, who are being tested, so sometimes we have to make a packet for them if they're not in class. It's hard, but I think everyone is rising to the challenge."
Kindergarten Teacher Valerie Ray said the bonuses could not have come at a better time.
"Oh, I'm very appreciative," Ray said. "It was so unexpected. My daughter is very busy with sports, so this will help with that, this will help with (my kids') Christmas and it'll help me get a root canal. I'm also hoping to get my students a gift."