The first is a payment for employees forced to miss several days of work in January and February due to severe weather and COVID-19-related campus closures.
The board initially discussed providing compensation for those employees during a Feb. 17 regular meeting. At a March 31 meeting, officials approved that compensation for affected employees forced to miss work days but did not specify a total cost to the district.
At the same meeting, the second compensation measure saw the board approve a 3% pay bump for all staff for the 2022-23 school year.
Willie Watson Jr., the district's chief human resources officer, presented several models to the school board regarding staff pay bumps ranging from 2% to 3% pay increase for all job groups.
In addition to the 3% pay raise for most staff, the board also voted to increase the starting pay rate for any remaining nonexempt district positions making less than $15 per hour after the 3% increase to at least $15 per hour.
District information states the 3% pay increase will add $7.51 million to next year's PfISD budget.
Prior to the board's vote, officials expressed concerns that 3% is not enough to cover cost-of-living expenses for district staff.
"I read an article that the average family this year is experiencing an additional $5,060 in expenses based on all of the inflation, plus gasoline and what not," Place 1 Board Member David Aguirre said. "I think at the minimum, [3%] is what we should do."
During discussion of the pay raise, Superintendent Doug Killian warned officials that the pay raise will not allow for a balanced budget in 2022-23, but he said a 3% increase that also guarantees all staff will make at least $15 per hour is the right thing to do.
"We're stretching the budget no matter what we do," Killian said. "The last thing I want to do is not pass a high enough percentage pay increase and then come to you the following school year with more money in fund balance."
