FAQs: What you need to know about the changes to the bonus structure

We will be doubling our network investment in the returning staff bonus this year. Governor Polis’s mid-year budget included new one-time funding for public education this spring, and when DSST has additional dollars from state, federal or other funding, we always look to first put those dollars towards valuing you as best we can.

This restructuring of the bonus system better aligns with our compensation guiding principles: transparency, predictability, equity, sustainability, DSST experience and competitiveness. 

Here is how the DSST Experience Bonus will work.

• See the chart below to see how much you will be receiving based on your years working at DSST.             . 
• After next year, as we shift to a DSST Experience Bonus, staff will receive larger bonuses to recognize every three years of service. For example after three years of service to DSST, staff will earn a $3k bonus, after six years, staff will earn a $4k bonus, until after 12 years and every three years after that staff will earn a $6k bonus. While this means not every returning staff will receive a bonus at the start of every school year, staff who commit to DSST over many years will earn much bigger returning bonuses over time.

A breakdown of the revised bonus structure and FAQs can be found below.

1) Who gets the bonus?

Every staff member who is paid as a DSST employee, both full-time and part-time. This does not include long-term subs, coaches, seasonal employees and contractors. Please note that in order to retain this bonus, team members must remain with DSST through the first Quarter of the year in which they receive the bonus. 

2) When will I receive this bonus?

All returning staff will receive this bonus at the end of August. 

3) How does this bonus work for me over the next few years?

Example: if you were hired on 7/1/2018 you have four years of experience and would have the following bonus timing:

You will receive $2,000 in August 2022, $0 in August 2023, and $4,000 in August 2024

4) Why are we choosing March 1 as the cutoff?

March 1 is the date we use for compensation policies to qualify as a year of experience for raise and bonus eligibility. This aligns with being at DSST for at least a full trimester of the year. 

5) Why don’t we continue the August 2022 bonus into the future?

Next year’s bonus is being increased through one-time funding that we will not have in future years. Therefore we cannot afford to do that bonus every year.

6) I liked getting $1,000 every year, why the change?

This revised policy provides a more meaningful investment when staff receive it. It aligns to feedback we have received from staff who want acknowledgement for their commitment to DSST. Staff who stay with DSST will receive more money over time than with $1,000 per year.

7) Can I stay on the old policy?

No, all staff need to move to the revised policy in order to truly capture the positive impact. Managing different bonus structures is also not feasible for us as an organization.

8) Will I get more money for bonuses I missed if this would have always been the policy?

No, we are not making any adjustments based on differences in past years between the old and new policies.

9) My raise was based on total years of teaching, but this bonus is based on DSST years. Why the difference?

Raise adjustments were made to ensure that DSST base pay is competitive with market salaries which incorporate total years of teaching. This bonus is meant to recognize and appreciate commitment to DSST specifically.

10) Who can I reach out to with questions?

Email HumanResources@scienceandtech.org