Print

School Employees Get Bonuses, Too

By Jeffrey B. Cohen

October 23, 2009

News this summer that Mayor Eddie A. Perez was giving his departing chief of staff an $11,450 bonus as he left his job sparked a review of the city's entire bonus and incentive program.

But the city isn't the only municipal agency that pays incentives.

As of July 2008, the school system began paying residency bonuses to its teachers, principals and supervisors. In 2009, it paid $291,000 to 164 people, the schools say.

Andrea Johnson, president of the Hartford Federation of Teachers, said that residency bonus -- which is calculated at three percent of base salary -- was supported by the teachers, the administration, and the mayor in the most recent contract.

"We have quite a few folks moving to Hartford as a new teacher, and the incentive was very appealing to them," Johnson said. "Of course, for those folks who are living here, it's also very appealing."

"You want folks who are working for the city to live in the city," Johnson said.

The school system gives some of its employees longevity and performance bonuses, too. Longevity bonuses don't get paid until the end of the year, but so far in 2009, the schools have paid more than $1.4 million in residency and performance bonuses.