Published Monday, April 21, 2008 8:28 PM
Updated Monday, April 21, 2008 8:29 PM

 

Rural teachers receive break

The Berkeley County School Board has approved the 2008-2009 School Rural Mileage Incentive.

The board met in regular session last week at the district office in Moncks Corner.

Teachers working at Cainhoy Elementary and Middle, Cross Elementary and High, H. E. Bonner Elementary, J. K. Gourdin Elementary, Macedonia Middle, St. Stephen Elementary and Middle, and Timberland High schools are eligible for the mileage stipend, intended to help offset costs of driving out to such schools.

If teachers drive more than 60 miles to school one way, they are eligible for $2,400, which is paid over 24 pay checks and pro-rated for the number of days worked. Teachers who drive 20 to 29 miles one way will receive $1,600.

This is just one way for the district "to try to keep and recruit teachers to our rural schools," district Executive Director of Financial Services Brantley Thomas said. However, "particularly with the price of gas," the incentive may not offset the entire costs incurred by rural teachers, he added.

The incentive is a 14% increase over last year's budget, Assistant for Superintendent Personnel Services Willis Sanders said. The funds distributed is equivalent to about $8 per day, or three gallons of gas, for teachers driving more than 120 miles per day, he said.

"It is minimum," Sanders said. "Ideally, we'd love to offer more."

Currently, the district has budgeted $40,000 for this incentive. However, since the budget is preliminary, that means more money can be allotted later on, Sanders said.

"It's possible it could raise that mileage," he said.

According to Sanders, 190 teachers travel to rural schools this year.