SouthArk OKs merit bonuses for employees

The South Arkansas Community College Board of Trustees held a specially-called meeting on Dec. 9.

The primary purpose of the meeting was to consider a merit bonus for full- and part-time employees of the college.

“We’ve been discussing internally how to best support our employees in response to the great work they’ve done around the pandemic this year,” Dr. Bentley Wallace, SouthArk president, said. “It was quoted or mentioned of doing a one time merit bonus in December to recognize that good work.”

The proposal for bonuses outlined a one time amount of $450 to full-time employees and $200 to part-time employees, putting the total cost of the merit bonuses right at $99,000.

“They haven’t received a bonus or pay increase in quite some time, so we feel the timing is right and appropriate to recognize the work they’ve done this year to keep us going,” Wallace said.

“From a revenue perspective we’re in pretty good shape this Fall and anticipate state revenue to continue to come in during the Spring, so we are comfortable with the expenditure and we feel like it will be a fine gesture to our employees right before the holiday,” he continued.

Wallace did not fall into the qualification for the merit bonus originally, as his salary and earnings are dictated by the Board; however, a motion was made to also include him in with the rest of the employees for the merit bonus. Wallace stepped away from the meeting while the motion was discussed among the Board in an executive session, and once a decision was reached, Wallace came back to the meeting.

The proposal to give SouthArk employees a one-time merit bonus was passed and approved first by the Board’s finance committee and then the full Board of Trustees.

Wallace said 145 full-time and 75 part-time employees will receive the merit bonus.