Should Missouri K-12 Teachers get a Bonus for Sticking Around Next School Year?

Missouri Board of Education President Charlie Shields wants the state to review whether K-12 teachers can be given a bonus to keep them around next school year. Shields, of northwest Missouri’s St. Joseph, made the request last October and he did again Tuesday during a board meeting.

Kari Monsees (mawn-sess), deputy commissioner for finance with the department, says he will do some more checking on what can be done with federal coronavirus dollars. Missouri already has a lingering shortage of teachers and COVID-19 has made an even larger dent, in part due to increased teacher workload stress.