Cole Gee April 27, 2026
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At its April 22 regular board meeting, Willis ISD trustees approved a one-time employee retention stipend for WISD educators and district staff.

The breakdown

At the April 21 board workshop meeting, WISD Chief Financial Officer Garrett Matej reviewed the district’s budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year. Matej reported that WISD would have a projected budget surplus of $2.9 million, and recommended that part of the remaining balance be used for a one-time employee stipend.

Employees who are eligible for the one-time payment include teachers, administrators and professional personnel, Matej said. Nonexempt hourly employees, part-time staff and school resource officers are also eligible.

The payment is expected to be released by August, as long as the recipients are employed through May 1 to Jan. 31, 2027, Matej said.

Employees who resign or are terminated before Jan. 31, 2027, will be required to reimburse WISD for the stipend, per an April 24 WISD Facebook post.

By Cole Gee

Cole joined Community Impact in 2025 as the general assignment reporter for the Tomball/Magnolia and Conroe/Montgomery areas. Before joining CI, Cole worked for many different news organizations, including KWBU News, The Houston Defender, and his alma mater’s student newspaper, The Baylor Lariat. When not reporting on local school board meetings and community events, you can find him at a Rockets, Astros or Texans game, listening to music, reading comic books or enjoying a nice workout at his boxing gym.