The Lake Travis ISD board of trustees heard plans for the 2026-2027 compensation plan at an April 15 board meeting. The plan includes a 1% of the midpoint pay increase for all staff, a $1,000 retention incentive for all staff at all levels, and other salary and stipend adjustments.
The overview
The proposed compensation plan includes a 1% pay increase from the midpoint of the pay scale. This means that teachers making below the midpoint of the pay scale will receive slightly more than 1%, and those making the midpoint salary will receive slightly less than 1%.
A first-time teacher with a bachelor’s degree receives a starting salary of $57,000 for the 2025-2026 school year. After the 1% increase, that teacher would earn $57,640 in the 2026-2027 school year.
This increase will have a $745,100 impact on the general operating budget, said Pam Sanchez, LTISD's assistant superintendent for business services.
“I really appreciate the fact that our district is showing our educators, all of our educators, that we really appreciate all that they do and that we want to compensate them accordingly,” board member Kris Woodcock said. “Of course, if we could, we’d be giving them 10% raises all across the board, but unfortunately, the sum of money that we get from the legislature does not allow us to do that. ... It’s really amazing that we are able to go beyond what the legislature gave and give every single educator some sort of compensation benefit.”
The details
Along with the pay increase, the new compensation plan will include a $1,000 retention incentive for all staff, with $500 paid in November and $500 paid in February, creating a one-time budget impact of $1.26 million.
A $400,000 increase to the general operating budget will account for stipend adjustments for several programs, including Early Childhood Special Education, Life Skills, Social Development, Bridges 18+ and Get Ready, Get Set, Go. This allotment will also cover reclassifying school psychologists to the same pay grade as speech-language pathologists.
“It’s nice that we’re able to increase compensation, but there is so much to be said for stability,” Superintendent Curtis Null said. “We are not closing schools, we are not eliminating whole types of positions like other places are.”
Something to note
Earlier in the month, a 5% budget cut was proposed in order to account for the potential $1.2 million budget shortfall in 2026-2027 if cuts are not made.
The board will vote on the compensation plan at the May 20 meeting.
