Retention & Referral Bonuses

PARAEDUCATOR RETENTION BONUS PROGRAM SUMMER PROGRAMS 2023
Updated May 12, 2023  

Certain summer programs are offering a retention bonus for paraeducators.

Please see the detailed program guide here.

Retention Bonus Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for the retention bonus?
Paraeducators who are employed and actively working at the following summer programs may be eligible for the summer program retention bonus.

• DART
• Early Kindergarten Transition (EKT)
• Migrant Ed Program
• Special Education Extended School Year
• Special Education Recovery Services
• Special Education Summer Works Program
• Summer Acceleration Academy
• Summer Arts Academy

How much is the retention bonus?
Employees who are eligible for the retention bonus would receive $400.

When and how will I receive my retention bonus?
The retention bonus will be paid no later than the second payroll date immediately following the retention date by program.

The retention bonus will be paid as a separate line item on the corresponding paycheck.

Will my retention bonus be taxed?
PPS will withhold from any amounts paid under the retention bonus any income tax or other amounts as required by law, including any mandatory contributions under PERS or OPSRP.

PARAEDUCATOR RETENTION BONUS PROGRAM 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR
August 17, 2022

The school board approved the continuation of the paraeducator retention bonus program for the 2022-2023 school year, with funding from HB 4030.  

Please see the detailed program guide here.

Retention Bonus Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for the retention bonus?
Paraeducators who are employed and actively working, or are on protected leave, as of December 15, 2022 are eligible for the First Retention Bonus. Paraeducators who receives the First Retention Bonus and remain employed and actively working, or are on protected leave, as of through the end of May 2023.

Those that are hired and start working after 4/01/2023 will not be eligible to receive the retention bonus.  

How much is the retention bonus?
Employees who are eligible for both retention bonuses would receive $3,000.
Eligible employees will receive $1,500 for the First Retention Bonus and $1,500 for the Second Retention Bonus which is prorated based on FTE (paraeducators are considered full-time at 0.938 FTE). 

When and how will I receive my retention bonus?
The retention bonus will be paid no later than the second payroll date immediately following the retention dates (December 15, 2022 and May 31, 2023).

The retention bonus will be paid as a separate line item on the corresponding paycheck.

Will my retention bonus be taxed?
PPS will withhold from any amounts paid under the retention bonus any income tax or other amounts as required by law, including any mandatory contributions under PERS or OPSRP.

REFERRAL BONUS PROGRAM 2022 SUMMER PROGRAMS

June 15, 2022

Last night the Portland Public School Board approved the following referral bonus programs for summer programs.

REFERRAL BONUS

This school year has been among the most challenging in our collective experience, and we thank you for all of your hard work to support our students this year. We also know our students continue to need our support throughout the summer, and that summer programs will accelerate our students’ readiness for school in the fall. We are excited to offer a variety of summer programs to build towards a great 2022-23 school year.  We need your help to ensure those programs are staffed with consistent, experienced, and caring adults. 

In an effort to fill summer positions, today we are announcing a $300 employee referral bonus for you and your coworkers to help recommend and attract colleagues to work in our Summer Acceleration Academy, Special Education ESY and Recovery Services summer programs. Referral bonuses have long been a proven recruitment tool to attract quality applicants to an organization, and we are excited to recognize our staff who get the word out to their colleagues, communities, and networks about job opportunities here.  

Do you know a professional colleague who has the experience and tools to support students with special needs and/or mental health and are available this summer? A classroom educator looking to educate students at PPS?

If the answer is yes, you are eligible to receive this referral bonus. How does it work? 

In order for you to receive this $300 referral bonus, prospective candidates in any of the below groups must apply for a position in either Summer Acceleration Academy, SPED ESY, SPED Learning Acceleration, or SPED Recovery Service programs and indicate you as a referral (first and last name) at the time of application:

• Paraeducators
• School-based Counselors
• School-based Social Workers
• Educational Assistants
• Classroom Educators
• SPED Classroom Educators 

If the candidate or colleague you referred to the summer program is hired before the program begins, remains employed and in good standing for the entire duration of the program, you will receive a $300 referral bonus, less withholding taxes, within two pay cycles after the conclusion of the program. 

For more details on the referral bonus, please review our program guide here. If you have questions or need additional information, please refer to these frequently asked questions below.

Lastly, and it can’t be said enough, we deeply appreciate you and how you showed up for our students and colleagues this year. The resilience you have shown repeatedly throughout this pandemic is truly inspiring. Thank you for continuing to rise to the occasion for our students, their families, and the community.

Warm regards,

Sharon Reese, CHRO
Jey Buno, Senior Director Special Education
Dana Nerenberg, Interim Senior Director Academic Programs
 

Summer Referral Bonus Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for the referral bonus?
Between now and the start of the specific summer program (dates listed below), PPS employees who refer a candidate in the job classifications outlined below, who meets all the following criteria are eligible for the referral bonus:

• Referring employee remains employed by PPS through the payment date;
• Referring employee is designated by the candidate as the referring employee on the application for employment;
• The referred candidate is new to the Summer Program they are hired to;
• The referred candidate is successfully hired for one of the following 2022 summer  programs before it begins and remains employed through the entire duration of the program:
• Summer Acceleration Academy 
• Special Education Extended School Year (ESY) 
• Special Education Recovery Services
• Special Education Learning Acceleration

The following open job classifications as qualifying an individual to be a candidate*: 

• Classroom Educators
• School-Based Counselors 
• School-Based Social Workers
• Educational Assistants
• SPED - Paraeducators
• SPED - Educators

How much is the referral bonus?
The referral bonus for eligible employees is $300 per successful candidate.

When and how will I receive the referral bonus?
The referral bonus will be paid to eligible employees no later than the second payroll date immediately following the end of the summer program. 

The referral bonus will be paid as a separate line item on the corresponding paycheck.

Will my referral bonus be taxed?
PPS will withhold from any amounts paid under the referral bonus any income tax or other amounts as required by law, including any mandatory contributions under PERS or OPSRP.

How long is the entire duration of the summer program?

• Summer Acceleration Academy - July 5 - August 8, 2022
• Special Education Extended School Year - June 21 - July 1, 2022 and August 8, 2022 - August 19, 2022
• Special Education Recovery Services - June 21 - July 1, 2022 and August 8, 2022 - August 19, 2022
• Special Education Learning Acceleration (Grades 1-8) - July 5, 2022 - August 8, 2022
• Special Education Learning Acceleration (Grades 9-12) - June 27, 2022 - July 14, 2022 and July 18, 2022 - August 3, 2022

The candidate I referred did not list my name on their application but I referred them, can I still be paid?
Applicable job postings include language and directions for candidates regarding how to indicate the employee that referred them. They must follow those instructions in order for you to be eligible for the referral bonus.

How do candidates indicate on their application that I referred them?
When a candidate applies for a job, in step 8 - Referrals, candidates need to answer the question, “How did you learn of the job” and select “Current Employee”. There is a field titled “Specific Referral Source” where they need to enter your name. 

How do I verify the candidate listed my name on their application?
If you have referred a candidate to an eligible classification, please confirm directly with the candidate that they provided your name per the instructions on the job posting and listed above in these FAQs.

How will I know if the candidate I referred was hired?
Upon successfully being hired, Human Resources will send the referring employee an email to inform them the candidate they referred was hired.

How will I know if the candidate I referred completed the entire duration of the summer program and I will receive my referral bonus?
Upon the candidate’s successful completion of the entire duration of the summer program, the referring employee will receive an email notification informing them of their referral bonus. This communication will include the expected timeline for payment.

REFERRAL BONUS PROGRAM 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR

November 10, 2021

Last night the Portland Public School Board approved the following referral bonus programs.

REFERRAL BONUS

Recognizing the pressures our school system is under due to staffing shortages, we are announcing a $750 employee referral bonus for you to help recommend and attract new colleagues to work in our schools. 

Do you know a neighbor who might make a great custodian at your school? A friend who could be an additional support in a PPS classroom? A professional colleague who has the experience and tools to support students with special needs and/or mental health at your school?

If the answer is yes, you are eligible to receive this referral bonus. To learn more, read the Referral Bonus FAQs below or review the full Referral Bonus Program guide.

 

REFERRAL BONUS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

Who is eligible for the referral bonus?
Effective November 10 through March 31, 2022, PPS employees who refers a candidate in the job classifications outlined below, who meets all the following criteria are eligible for the referral bonus:

• Referring employee remains employed by PPS through the payment date;
• Referring employee is designated by the candidate as the referring employee on the application for employment;
• The referred candidate is new to PPS;
• The referred candidate is successfully hired for the 2021-2022 school year and remains employed through a 90 day probation period. 

The following open job classifications as qualifying an individual to be a candidate*: 

• Custodian
• School-based counselors
• School-based QMHP
• School-based social workers
• SPED - Paraeducators
• SPED - Educators, including CRP
• SPED - School Psychologists

*TOSA and Administrator positions are not included. 

How much is the referral bonus?
The referral bonus for eligible employees is $750 per successful candidate.

When and how will I receive the referral bonus?
The referral bonus will be paid to eligible employees no later than the second payroll date immediately following the end of the candidate’s probationary period. 

The referral bonus will be paid as a separate line item on the corresponding paycheck.

Will my referral bonus be taxed?
PPS will withhold from any amounts paid under the referral bonus any income tax or other amounts as required by law, including any mandatory contributions under PERS or OPSRP.

How long is the candidate’s probationary period?
The candidate’s probationary period for the purposes of the referral bonus only is 90 days.

The candidate I referred did not list my name on their application but I referred them, can I still be paid?
Applicable job postings include language and directions for candidates regarding how to indicate the employee that referred them. They must follow those instructions in order for you to be eligible for the referral bonus.

How do candidates indicate on their application that I referred them?
When a candidate applies for a job, in step 8 - Referrals, candidates need to answer the question, “How did you learn of the job” and select “Current Employee”. There is a field titled “Specific Referral Source” where they need to enter your name. 

How do I verify the candidate listed my name on their application?
If you have referred a candidate to an eligible classification, please confirm directly with the candidate that they provided your name per the instructions on the job posting and listed above in these FAQs.

How will I know if the candidate I referred was hired?
Upon successfully being hired, Human Resources will send the referring employee an email to inform them the candidate they referred was hired.

How will I know if the candidate I referred completed their 90 day probationary period and I will receive my referral bonus?
Upon the candidate's successful completion of their 90 day probationary period for purposes of the referral bonus, the referring employee will receive an email notification informing them of their referral bonus. This communication will include the expected timeline for payment.

PARAEDUCATOR RETENTION BONUS PROGRAM 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR

November 10, 2021

Last night the Portland Public School Board approved the following retention bonus programs.

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RETENTION BONUS FOR PARAEDUCATORS

The start of this school year has been among the most challenging in our collective experience. The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in labor shortages across many industries. Staffing shortages are also true in school districts across the country, including ours, which impact on our ability to effectively serve and support students and our school communities. Paraeducators play a particularly important role in our schools, and we are observing that your unit is being particularly affected by this shortage. 

We would like to tangibly demonstrate our deep appreciation for your dedication to our students and school communities this year, as a PARAEDUCATOR and therefore are pleased to share that you will be receiving a $3,000 retention bonus for your dedicated service.

To learn more, read the Retention Bonus FAQs below or review the full Retention Program guide.

RETENTION BONUS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

Who is eligible for the retention bonus?
Paraeducators who are employed and actively working, or are on protected leave, as of January 27, 2022 are eligible for the First Retention Bonus. Paraeducators who receives the First Retention Bonus and remains employed and actively working, or are on protected leave, as of through the end of the 2021-2022 school year will receive the Second Retention Bonus.

How much is the retention bonus?
Employees who are eligible for both retention bonuses would receive $3,000.
Eligible employees will receive $1,500 for the First Retention Bonus and $1,500 for the Second Retention Bonus which is prorated based on FTE (paraeducators are considered full-time at 0.938 FTE). 

When and how will I receive my retention bonus?
The retention bonus will be paid no later than the second payroll date immediately following the retention dates (January 27, 2022 and end of employee’s 2021-2022 school year).

The retention bonus will be paid as a separate line item on the corresponding paycheck.

Will my retention bonus be taxed?
PPS will withhold from any amounts paid under the retention bonus any income tax or other amounts as required by law, including any mandatory contributions under PERS or OPSRP.