At the April 26 meeting, the district showed a comparison sheet of compensation increases districts in the area were considering. While several districts were considering midpoint raises in the 2%-3% range, some districts are opting for larger 4%-7% midpoint raises, such as Bastrop ISD, Hays ISD and Lake Travis ISD.
“We’re only as good as our people,” Superintendent Tom Leonard said. “And while we’ve got great people, we’ve got to find a way to compensate them.”
When House Bill 3, a landmark state school funding bill, was introduced, EISD stretched to offer 4% raises to its employees, Leonard said. At that same time, LTISD was able to offer a raise of more than 7%. Though districts are now offering larger raises, they are not sustainable in the long term, Leonard said.
“Lake Travis [ISD] will have a deficit next year,” Leonard said. “You’ve got Austin ISD that’s using almost all of its [Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief III] funds this year to—even with the cuts—be able to get that raise. It’s going to be a challenge.”
ESSER III funds are federal funds that were provided during the pandemic to address health safety and learning loss among students. EISD was allotted $1.18 million through these federal funds, while LTISD was allotted $3.03 million.
