FY25 Employee Supplements FAQ

One-Time Retention Supplement (Effective December 2024)

1. Who is eligible to receive a supplement?

Employees receiving a December paycheck who were actively employed as of December 9, 2024 (the Board’s action date), and who had not submitted a resignation thereby indicating an intent to continue employment next semester.

2. What is the purpose of the supplement?

The purpose of the supplement is to support the retention of Henry County Schools’ workforce – to include critically embedded contracted staff, such as contracted teachers, substitutes, custodians, and school resource officers.

3. How much is the supplement?

Eligible full-time and hourly employees will receive $250. Eligible part-time employees and critically embedded contracted staff will receive tiered supplements in accordance with their documented work schedule commitment.

4. Are substitute teachers/substitute nutrition/substitute transportation staff eligible for a supplement?

Whether an HCS employee or a critically embedded contracted staff member, the Superintendent and School Board recognize that the dedication of our substitute corps is critical to school operations and seeks to retain these members.  As such, a graduated supplement scale to reward substitutes based on the number of days they served our students has been defined, as follows:

• 45-59 Days will receive $125
• 60+ Days will receive $250

5. Are Bus Drivers eligible for a supplement?

Yes, bus drivers are treated as full-time employees for benefit eligibility and therefore are eligible for the supplement.

6. Are Bus Monitors and Campus Security Monitors eligible for a supplement?

Yes, bus monitors and campus security monitors are hourly, on-call staff members and will receive the $250 supplement.

7. If I worked more than one job during the year, for example Teacher and BASE worker, will I get two supplements? 

No, employees can earn only one supplement. 

8. Are Active Retirees working 49% eligible for a supplement?

Yes, however, Active Retirees are restricted by TRS rules to 49% of the supplement amount and would receive $122.50 ($250 x 49%).

9. When will I receive the supplement?

Employees will receive the supplement as an addition to their regular December pay on Thursday, December 19, 2024. Timelines for disbursements for contracted staff may vary and will be delivered via the service providers payroll processes.  

10. Will taxes be taken out of the supplement amount?

Yes. Per IRS Publication 15 (Circular E), supplements paid concurrent with an employee’s wages are taxed at an individual’s filing status and W-4/G-4 withholdings on file.  Additionally, Social Security tax in the amount of 6.2% and Medicare tax in the amount of 1.45% are also required deductions.

11. Can I change my tax withholdings or direct deposit information prior to distribution of the supplement?

No.  Standard payroll processes – which include withholding determinations and bank routing – were completed December 11, 2024.  Changes to these selections can resume in January through Employee Self Service functionality within AccessHCS – the new enterprise resource planning system.

12. Will my usual 6% TRS contribution be deducted from the supplement amount?

No, it has been determined that this income is not normal, earnable compensation based on state law so both the employee and employer deductions are not applicable.

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Benefits Premium Supplement (Effective January 2025)

1. What is the purpose of the supplement?

The intent of this monthly supplement is to offset increases in employee’s benefit premiums announced  by external providers for the 2025 calendar year as follows: 

• The Georgia Department of Community Health announced increases of up to $9.00/month for employee only plans and up to $32.24/month for the Employee + Family plan.
• The dental benefits provider announced premium increases of 7% on average.

Improving employee salaries via this supplement mid-year provides an offset to these announced premium increases and ensures that employees do not face an indirect reduction in their FY25 salary.

2. Who is eligible to receive a supplement?

This supplement is authorized for benefit eligible employees employed by Henry County Schools.

3. How much is the supplement?

The supplement is $60/month and is subject to retirement and standard withholdings. 

4. When will I receive the supplement?

Benefit supplements will begin during the January 2025 paycheck and will continue for the duration of the FY25 pay cycles associated with the employees work contract/calendar.  If an employee terminates their employment with Henry County Schools, the benefits supplement is forfeited and will not be included within final pay-out considerations.

5. Will taxes be taken out of the supplement amount?

Yes. Per IRS Publication 15 (Circular E), supplements paid concurrent with an employee’s wages are taxed at an individual’s filing status and W-4/G-4 withholdings on file.  Additionally, Social Security tax in the amount of 6.2% and Medicare tax in the amount of 1.45% are also required deductions.

6. Will my usual 6% TRS contribution be deducted from the supplement amount?

Yes. This supplement is intended to increment an employee’s wages to offset increases in benefits premium. Accordingly, the supplement is deemed earnable compensation and subject to TRS employee deductions, as well as TRS employer contributions.

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Teacher Salary Supplement (Effective January 2025)

1. What is the purpose of the supplement?

This supplement is aligned to the Board’s commitment to attract and retain highly qualified teachers through competitive compensation, thus advancing the vision that every Henry County Schools student has access to a high-quality, world-class education.

2. Who is eligible to receive a supplement?

All teachers and other specific job families paid based on the teacher salary scale.

3. How much is the supplement?

Every eligible employee will receive $170.00 supplement payable through the end of the employee’s pay cycle. (Ex: 190 employees will receive the supplement through August 2025)

4. When will I receive the supplement?

This supplement is effective January 1, 2025. Therefore, teachers will see this supplement included within the January through August 2025 paychecks. If an employee terminates their employment with Henry County Schools, unpaid supplement amounts will be forfeited and will not be included within final pay-out considerations.

5. Will taxes be taken out of the supplement amount?

Yes. Per IRS Publication 15 (Circular E), supplements paid concurrent with an employee’s wages are taxed at an individual’s filing status and W-4/G-4 withholdings on file.  Additionally, Social Security tax in the amount of 6.2% and Medicare tax in the amount of 1.45% are also required deductions.

6. Will my usual 6% TRS contribution be deducted from the supplement amount?

Yes. This supplement is intended to increment an employee’s wages. Accordingly, the supplement is deemed earnable compensation and subject to TRS employee deductions, as well as, TRS employer contributions.

7. How do supplements that were approved impact the overall teacher salary scale?

The Board’s action will enhance the teacher scale by approximately $2,760 on an annualized basis. Through this targeted supplement of $170/month and the $60/month benefits supplement, the overall teacher salary scale is increased. For example, the starting salary for a T4 teacher with 0 years of experience would effectively increase from $50,910 to $53,670. 

8. Does this supplement affect both professional and provisional teacher salary scales? 

Yes, the supplement affects both professional and provisional teacher salary scales.

9. Will this supplement continue into the next fiscal year (FY26)?

Yes. By taking action, the Board effectively revised the FY25 Teacher Salary scale. Accordingly, the revised scale will be the basis for consideration of FY26 teacher salary scale improvements.