Catawba County Schools is the latest Charlotte-area district weighing in with new bonuses to attract teachers and other employees in a competitive market.
The new incentives include:
- Signing bonuses of $1,000 for teachers and $500 for other staff.
- Bonuses of up to $150 a month for substitute teachers, based on the number of days worked.
- Retention bonuses totaling $2,000 for all full-time employees who work the full school year.
The district is using federal COVID-19 relief money to cover costs.
Districts across North Carolina are facing staff shortages that make it hard to cover classrooms and keep in-person classes running. The state principals’ association has identified that as this year’s biggest challenge.