PERRY, Iowa — Teachers and staff in Perry may be receiving retention bonuses this year after Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a new bill into law Friday.
The bill, which was sent to Reynolds' desk earlier this week, allows the Perry Community School District to spend $700,000 in local tax dollars on bonuses for school district employees.
The law is an effort to support Perry teachers and staff following the deadly school shooting in January. Two people died in the tragedy: Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger and 11-year-old Ahmir Jolliff.
“As the Perry Community School District continues to heal, this legislation will provide students, teachers, and staff with an additional layer of support, allowing them the flexibility they need to care for themselves and each other," Reynolds said in a statement. "We stand with Perry and are committed to doing whatever we can to help the community recover.”
The law also waives requirements relating to the length of the school year, high school graduation requirements, school assessments and more for the 2023-2024 school year.
The waivers are a response to school cancellations across the district back in January, during which time classes were canceled to allow the community to grieve and the district to address safety concerns.