Farm Bureau Insurance has offered to sponsor a teacher attendance incentive, commencing with the second semester of the current school year.

“We are very grateful to Farm Bureau Insurance to sponsor a teacher attendance incentive program for our school district,” said superintendent Dr. Buck Ford.

The program is designed to recognize and reward teachers who have perfect attendance. The program, which will go into effect the upcoming second semester, works like this:

• All Blanco ISD employees are eligible for the program, excepting the administrative team.

• At the end of each six weeks grading period, the names of all employees with perfect attendance during that grading period will be put into a pool.

• Two names will be drawn from the pool, and they will receive a $100 check from Farm Bureau Insurance.

The idea for this program originated during a breakout session of a District Site Based Decision Making Committee. A sub-committee was looking at the issues of Staff Quality, Recruitment, and Retention. Farm Bureau representative Monica McCormick was a member of that sub-committee.

Discussion developed around teacher attendance incentives, and a way to balance the elimination of the $350 reimbursement for unused local leave that the District had previously provided, but which fell to budget cuts.

“It takes true love for our kids and community to do the job that teachers, staff, and administration do every day!” said McCormick.

“I find it a blessing to give back to the families of BISD. I know and see the sacrifices that are given to benefit the children of our community.”

“In a small way, Blanco Farm Bureau would like to offer a gift back. Our school employees do their part every day by showing up, and nurturing and guiding the children of Blanco.