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ACS Superintendent Dr. Wayne Vickers hands out extra compensation checks to Thompson High School teachers. (Reporter photo/Briana H. Wilson)

ALABASTER – Just in time for the holiday season, about 800 Alabaster City Schools teachers and classified staff once again received extra compensation checks from Superintendent Dr. Wayne Vickers and the Alabaster Board of Education.

On Monday, Nov. 25, Vickers and several school board members made their way from school to school hand delivering extra compensation checks for the sixth consecutive year. Certified teachers received $700 and classified employees, such as support staff, Child Nutrition Program employees and school resource officers, received $350. Vickers said $449,373 was set aside in the ACS budget to cover the cost.

“I’m so proud of our Board of Education for allowing us to be able to provide this extra compensation to our employees,” Vickers said. “This is just a small way for us to thank them for what they do for our kids every day. Our teachers and staff work tirelessly for our students.”

ACS was among the first schools in the state to begin giving extra compensation checks to employees. Although providing extra compensation to employees has become a tradition, district leaders did not announce when they were distributing them or how much the checks would be. As teachers briefly exited their classrooms, unsure of what was happening, their confusion quickly turned to joy when they realized what was going on.

School board member Jamia Alexander-Williams said the checks represent more than just extra money during the holidays – it lets ACS employees know they are valued.

“A lot of the times, they’re here before the bell rings and they stay well after the school day has ended,” Williams said. “They spend most of the day with our kids and they’re the first line of defense for some of them. There is nothing more important than our kids and their futures and our employees are a big part of that.”

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