PORTSMOUTH — To show their appreciation to school district employees’ “Herculean efforts” in providing a quality education to students during the COVID-19 pandemic, the School Committee last month unanimously approved one-time bonuses of $300 or $150 for most employees.

“Portsmouth schools really run on their people, and we know how hard everybody has worked over this last year and a half in making sure our schools are not only safe, but that learning can continue during a very trying time,” Committee Chairwoman Emily Copeland said during the June 29 meeting. 

Teachers have had to reinvent much of their methodology in delivering classroom materials, she said. “Administrators have worked overtime to make sure the schools are following protocol. Council 94 staff members have really stepped up and gone above and beyond in addition to our general school aids and bus monitors,” she added.

Ms. Copeland said the one-time “COVID bonuses” acknowledge the “Herculean efforts of the Portsmouth school district staff over this past year, as well as their cooperation in helping us to contain costs for the upcoming (fiscal year 2022) budget,” adding that the district’s two bargaining units and administrators have worked to maintain low contractural salary increases.

The bonuses will be paid to employees who have worked a minimum of 135 days during the past fiscal year which ended June 30. Full-time NEA members, Council 94 members and administrators each receive $300, while part-time general school aides and bus monitors get $150 apiece.

“The total cost of these bonuses, including payroll taxes, shall be no more than $105,000,” Ms. Copeland said. “It’s not a lot — it’s kind of a gift card — but we really appreciate all of the efforts this past year.”

Committee member Karen McDaid said she wished the panel could approve bigger bonuses.

“This has been such an unprecedented year,” she said. “In my experience, I’ve never known of a district giving bonuses in this way, and I think it’s appropriate for us to take an unprecedented step to acknowledge the amount of work that’s been done this year because it’s involved every single person in the district, and it’s been really extraordinary.”

Another committee member, Allen Shers, agreed.

“We have a large family here — our school system. The effort and people working together to get through this has been very inspiring. I believe it’s a nice little token gift — a thank-you — from us to the rest of our family here. I hope it’s enjoyed by all,” Mr. Shers said.