Math and science teachers in middle and high school and special education teachers at all grade levels will get a $1,500 signing bonus the first year they take a job with the Haywood School System.

“Generally, if we can get them here, they stay. The culture, the community, the type of kids we have — they are generally pretty happy and stay,” said Jason Heinz, the human resources officer for Haywood Schools. 

The school system will also offer a $2,500 retention bonus to keep teachers who work with special at-risk students. The school system has a special class at Central Elementary and two special classes at Waynesville Middle for students with emotional and behavior issues. The teachers in those programs can get $2,500 each year simply for sticking with the position.

The Haywood County School Board approved the plan this week. Teachers will get half the bonus at the beginning of the year, and half upon completing the school year.

“This is away to entice teachers to those positions,” said School Board Member Jim Francis.

Bonuses for math, science and special ed teachers are becoming more common throughout the state, making it even tougher to compete for the already hard-to-get teachers unless Haywood ponied up, too, Heinz said. The school system will use federal money earmarked for staff development.

Jackson County Schools recently approved a similar measure, offering a $1,000 signing bonus for teachers in those same fields.