About $1.8 million dollars that's the amount that will go out to teachers and staff in the Rapid City Area School District at the start of this coming school year. Not only teachers, but helpers, teacher assistants, secretarial and clerical staff, food service staff and some administrators will also receive that 2.5 percent bonus.

The district's superintendent and executive team will not get the extra money. Superintendent Dr. Timothy Mitchell says the bonus is possible because of increased enrollment numbers and additional revenue from the state legislature.And he says it's a "must" for the district to stay competitive.

Mitchell says, "As we look across, the Rapid City Area Schools has continued to try to be competitive and continues to try to keep quality teachers in the district. Of course, when it comes to anybody in the workforce, it has to do with salaries and benefits and things that are offered to you, and so as part of that you're always looking at compensation as something to make sure that you can recruit and retain those highly qualified people - in this case teachers - to be in front of our students each and everyday to provide that high-quality education that students need."

The bonus money will be paid out to Rapid City teachers and staff members in September.

Tessa Thomas