We’re excited to announce that the Central Rivers AEA Board of Directors has again approved a retention incentive payment as an early contract signing bonus for all Central Rivers AEA eligible staff members! This incentive is a direct reflection of the Board’s appreciation for your ongoing dedication and commitment to the educators, students and families we serve. It’s also a way to recognize the exceptional work you’ve done, particularly during the challenging times we’ve navigated together.
Here are the key details regarding this incentive:
- Amount: $500 per eligible staff member.
- Payment Date: This incentive will be issued as a separate deposit in September 2026, rather than in June as it was last year. Standard payroll tax withholdings will apply.
- Eligibility: To receive this incentive, you must:
- Accept and return your employment contract within five business days of receiving it. (Please note: You still have the standard 10 days for Classified, NUSS and Administrative staff and 21 days for Certified staff to sign your contract/NOC, but only five business days to receive the incentive).
- Have received an employment contract/NOC during the 2025-26 school year and remain employed with CRAEA through the 2026-2027 school year.
- Proration: The $500 incentive will be prorated based on your FTE for the 2026-2027 school year, if you work less than 1.0 FTE.
- Ineligibility: Staff members who have received an early notification incentive are ineligible for this retention incentive.
- Recoupment: If you receive this incentive and do not fulfill your 2026–2027 contract in full, the entire $500 will be subject to repayment. This replaces last year’s prorated repayment structure.
To confirm your understanding of these requirements and to receive the incentive, please sign and accept your contract within the five-day time frame. If you choose not to receive the incentive, please wait until after the five-day time frame to sign your contract, or communicate your decision to the Human Resources Office.
We are truly grateful for your continued commitment to our agency.