PELHAM – For the fourth year, teachers and staff in Pelham schools received extra compensation checks on the morning of Monday, Dec. 10.

Pelham City Schools Superintendent Dr. Scott Coefield and Board of Education members traveled to all four schools to hand-deliver the checks to more than 300 employees. Coefield said giving out the checks is probably his favorite thing to do as superintendent.

“It’s always a positive day as we show appreciation to our teachers and staff for all that they do during the school year,” he said. “Our teachers and staff are always extremely grateful. Working in the school system is not easy. Our teachers and support staff work extremely hard and this is a small token to say thank you.”

Coefield said all teachers were given $500 checks and support staff received $250.

“With our teachers and staff, I don’t think it’s so much about the money as it is about them feeling appreciated and being recognized for their hard work,” Coefield said. “This is also the Board of Education’s chance to visit with the teachers and to check in and see how things are going.

The board set aside money in its fiscal year 2019 budget to cover the cost of the compensation checks.