Henrico Schools to provide $500 bonus to all full-time employees this fall

All full-time staff members employed by Henrico County Public Schools at the start of the coming school year will receive a one-time $500 bonus, as part of what school officials are calling an “aggressive” campaign to retain current staffers and hire new ones.

In a message to employees Monday, officials said that they also would boost starting pay for teachers with limited experience and a bachelor’s degree by nearly $2,500 a year – from $48,003 to $50,464 – and pay $500 bonuses to employees who refer someone who is subsequently hired to a full-time job by the school system.

Annual salaries for beginning teachers with a master's degree and limited experience will increase to $52,887 from $50,338 as part of the plan, and the school system also will provide two new days off during the coming school year to promote physical and mental health. Schools will be closed during those two wellness days.

The school system’s approved 2022-23 budget also includes a 5% pay raise for all eligible full-time and part-time employees and a 2.6% raise for temporary and substitute workers.

“Our staff members are the ‘heart of Henrico,’ and these measures express that,” said HCPS Superintendent Amy Cashwell. “We’ll continue to work for opportunities to boost staff pay, benefits and well-being wherever possible. “I want to thank the Henrico School Board and school division staff who worked to make these measures a reality. This continued investment in our workforce will help keep public education in Henrico County strong and continue our status as a compensation leader.”

To qualify for the referral bonus, full-time staff members must fill out a form referring someone they know for a position as a full-time teacher, exceptional education instructional assistant, nurse, psychologist, social worker, bus driver, custodian or school nutrition services staff member. The candidate must be new to HCPS for the 2022-23 school year, and the referral must be made by Aug. 15. If the person is hired, the staff member who refers them will be paid $500. Referring staff members must be full-time employees of HCPS through Nov. 30.