1. Non-Educator Merit Pay Plan
New Hanover County Schools
2016

2. Introduction
The State Board approved allocations to each locality to pay non-educators merit based bonuses. The state requires the bonuses shall:
Be distributed based on a locally approved plan,
Not be distributed across the board,
Not be paid to certified teachers or instructional support, and
Use state funding for state funded personnel only.  

3. Purpose
Each LEA must have an approved plan that provides for the rewarding of bonuses to non-educators based on criteria establishing merit.
The purpose of this plan is to implement a fair and consistent process for recognizing and rewarding non-educator employees for their performance and achievements.
The plan does not include administrators or instructional personnel.

4. Employees Eligible for Bonuses
Non-educators are eligible for merit pay if:
They were employed by September 1, 2015, and worked a minimum of 20 hours per week.
They received a completed and signed evaluation for the 2015/16 school year.
They were rated “At or Above Standard” on all areas on last year’s evaluation.
They have not received a “Letter of Concern” or have been placed on an Improvement Plan since September 1, 2015.
They are not paid on the supervisory pay scale.

5. Bonus Criteria
Non-educators will have their overall ranking established within their individual department or school by comparative scoring on an evaluative rubric. The rubric will measure:
Evaluation data from the 2015/2016 school year.
Demonstrated leadership within school, department, or system.
Nomination or recognition of high performance or actions which are beyond those required for an employee’s position.
Attitude as demonstrated through self-control and a supportive and positive professional demeanor.
Job-based additional training, professional development, or certification beyond those required for an employee’s position.
Other criteria consistent with requirements developed for that particular department or school.

6. Bonus Award
The top 30% will be chosen from the total number of employees within that department or school to receive the bonus.
Each individual department or school will be identified for participation in the bonus plan.
Each identified department or school ‘s supervisor will review and score all eligible employees using the rubric and will rank them from highest to lowest with the top 30% of the total number of employees in the identified department receiving the bonus.
In the event of a tie at the 30% level, the bonus will be awarded to the employee with the longest service to New Hanover County Schools.
The bonus amount will be determined after all of the employees chosen to earn the bonus have been identified and will be prorated between full time (over 30 hours) and part time (under 30 and over 20 hours).

7. Merit-Based Pay Bonus Rubric
Employee
Evaluations (More Above Standard than At Standard)
Leadership (Able to problem solve and motivate others)
Initiative (Recognizes and steps up to take on new tasks)
Attitude (Displays self-control and positive professional demeanor)
Drive (Willing to learn new things or get new credentials)
Total