Bryan ISD trustees unanimously approved a $2.2 million employee compensation package at its June 1 meeting while the district continued to warn of ongoing financial pressures tied to declining enrollment and limited state funding growth.
The framework
The compensation plan for the 2026-27 school year includes:
- A one-time $500 stipend for all full-time employees, which would be paid out in December
- A $50-per-week bus driver attendance incentive
- Teacher step increases
- A $1,000 increase to the district’s starting teacher salaries
Bryan ISD Chief Financial Officer Norma Friddle said the proposal was designed to balance employee recognition with the district’s long-term financial stability.
“As we develop this recommendation, we have to balance two realities,” she told trustees. “First, our employees deserve to be recognized for the incredible work they do each day on behalf of our students. Second, we must ensure that any compensation adjustments are financially sustainable for the district- not just this year, but for future years.”
Community Impact spoke with Friddle about the budgets in an in-depth report in May, explaining how the budget and school taxes work.
The breakdown
In a news release, the district noted the compensation plan also maintains salary increases implemented during the 2025-26 school year.
Teachers with one to two years of experience will continue receiving a $2,500 Bryan ISD-funded increase, while teachers with three to four years of experience will continue receiving a $2,500 raise provided through House Bill 2.
Educators with five or more years of experience will continue receiving a $5,000 House Bill 2 increase.
The plan also raises the starting teacher salary from $52,500 to $53,500, includes step increases for teachers on the salary schedule and maintains high-needs and critical assignment stipends ranging from $2,000 to $6,000 for eligible employees.
Diving in deeper
The compensation package comes as Bryan ISD projects a budget deficit of up to $3.3 million for fiscal year 2026-27. The compensation plan is already built into those budget projections, as Friddle clarified with Superintendent Ginger Carrabine.
According to district estimates, Bryan ISD expects about $183 million in revenue next year, compared to about $186.3 million in expenditures. Friddle attributed the financial challenges to declining enrollment, rising operational costs and limited new funding during the second year of the state’s budget cycle.
Despite those challenges, she emphasized efforts to preserve student programs while identifying savings through attrition, tighter budget controls and ongoing reviews of district spending.
Friddle noted that Bryan ISD’s current-year financial outlook has improved significantly since trustees adopted a budget with a $6.7 million deficit last year. Through operational adjustments and additional revenue sources, including property value audits, which generated additional revenue, the district now projects ending the current fiscal year with results ranging from a $3.1 million deficit to a $1.9 million surplus. While the budget is still a work in progress, totals should be better understood later this summer.
Board members praised Friddle for her efforts to improve the district’s financial position while maintaining academic and extracurricular offerings. She was appointed as the district’s CFO in spring 2025 and has worked in school business and finance services for more than 20 years.
The local impact
College Station ISD also recently approved its 2026-27 compensation plan.
In CSISD’s plan, new teachers will start at $53,250 per year, and others may get a 3% pay raise or other increases.
What’s next
Trustees also discussed the possibility of a future voter-approval tax rate election, or VATRE, which could provide additional recurring revenue for employee compensation. If voters were to approve the measure, the district could replace the current stipend-based plan with permanent raises that would be retroactive to employees’ contract start dates.
The board approved the compensation plan without opposition. Friddle added that June 15 will be the last chance for the district to make any changes to the budget before the fiscal year ends.
