What you need to know
The district has informed the community that some budget cuts are imminent, with a projected shortfall of about $30 million for the 2024-25 school year. However, district administrators said this will not preclude them from including a small pay bump for employees in proposals for the budget, in order to retain employees.
In a proposal for the district's compensation plan in the upcoming year, administrators are recommending the board of trustees approve a 1% increase, with some adjustments to the overall pay structure, as well as an employee bonus if enrollment jumps ahead of projections shared in March. Trustees unanimously approved the measure April 18, absent Place 2 trustee Mary Bone and Place 7 trustee Danielle Weston.
The details
A 1% pay increase would play out differently across different job models, per the district's proposal and adjustments requested by the board:
- Teachers and librarians: Increase starting salary to $56,000, with eligible employees receiving a $625 general pay increase.
- Instructional, administrative and operations support; technology; instructional and business exempt positions; and police: Make adjustments to pay structure in line with Texas Association of School Boards recommendation, with eligible employees receiving a 1% raise based on the midpoint salary for their position.
- Transportation: Adjust pay structure per TASB recommendation, with eligible employees receiving a $2 hourly increase.
- Retention incentive: All eligible employees would receive a one-time payment of $500 if enrollment exceeds 47,000 students before the last Friday in October, which is the date an official count for enrollment will be taken by the state, and an additional $500 if enrollment exceeds 47,500 students by a date not yet set in the spring 2025 semester.
How we got here
For the past two budget years, the district has implemented 2%-3% increases to compensation, with the goal of keeping pay competitive as many teachers who have left cited cost of living as a reason they sought employment elsewhere.
RRISD last proposed a 1% pay increase for the 2021-22 budget year, intending to improve morale and pay despite no increase in funding from the state. The district has attributed some of its anticipated shortfall in the coming budget year to this stagnation of state funding, as well as decreased enrollment.
What they're saying
"Obviously, I want to give more than 1%, I just think that's not in our future right now," board President Amber Landrum said. "I think some people—we've even gotten emails from some people that 1% is a slap in the face, but 1% is better than 0% in my opinion."
What's next?
Budgetary discussions will continue as the board approaches its June meeting, when trustees will vote on its financial framework for the 2024-25 fiscal year.
