PELHAM – For the second year, Pelham City Schools employees got a pleasant surprise on Monday, Dec. 12, when Superintendent Scott Coefield and board of education members visited the schools to hand-deliver “extraordinary compensation” checks to all.

“Our folks have been working extremely hard in these first couple of years and this was something that we wanted to do to show or appreciation,” Coefield said. “It boosts morale and it was just an overall good day.”

Coefield and school board members walked down the hallways at each school, knocking on doors and surprising teachers and aides, Child Nutrition workers and other staff members with checks.

“Over the last couple of years we’ve asked a lot of our employees,” said school board president Rick Rhoades, who handed out checks at Pelham Oaks. “There have been a lot of transitions and they’ve been very understanding and they don’t complain – they just get it done.”

During summer break, Pelham Oaks teachers and staff moved into the school that used to be Valley Intermediate. During that same time, Pelham Ridge teachers and staff moved into what used to be Valley Elementary for nine weeks until their new school was completed. Teachers moved for a second time after fall break in October.

“Teachers were at their school late at night, making sure the schools were ready for students,” Rhoades said. “They worked over overtime to get it done. We just wanted to thank them for all of their hard work.”

Coefield said every PCS employee received compensation except himself and the chief financial officer.

The school system dedicated about $170,000 in the fiscal 2017 budget to the cause. Certified employees received $500 and non-certified employees received $250.