Staff and teachers at Clear Creek ISD will receive a pay increase after the board approved a new compensation plan for the upcoming school year at its July 24 meeting.

The overview

According to district documents, the new salary plan will include:

• A 1% increase for teachers for each year on the pay scale and a $600 increase to the minimum salary, raising it to $60,600
• A 1% increase for all professional and administrative staff
• A 2% salary increase for nonexempt staff
• Market and stipend adjustments for other employees

The plan was passed unanimously.

Put into perspective

The package’s total cost will come in at a little more than $5 million, according to district documents.

That total would see the district break even on its fiscal year 2023-24 budget if a voter-approved tax rate election, or VATRE, were to pass in November.

The district is staring at a $12.4 million shortfall in its new budget. While not yet confirmed, district officials have been eying a potential VATRE to fill in the gaps.

The VATRE being proposed would add an additional $17.4 million to the district’s budget, bringing a $5 million surplus, which would be enough to pay for the new compensation plan without sending the district into the red.

Before a VATRE can be voted on in November, the district’s board members will need to call one by Aug. 21. To do this, they would need to pass a new tax rate that goes beyond the one set by the state.

What else?

Clear Creek ISD ranks near the top in teacher salary compared to other districts in the area, according to district documents. Those rankings get better the longer a teacher has been employed by the district.

Among 13 districts in the area, CCISD ranks fifth in teacher compensation for teachers who are new, have five years of experience and have 10 years of experience, according to district documents.

The district jumps up to third at 15 years and No. 2 at 20 years. The district in all five categories pays above the market median, according to district documents.

Quote of note

Trustee Jeff Larson said it was “very frustrating” how difficult it was to “make [the district's] ends meet” given the ongoing budget constraints. He also wanted compensation to keep up with inflation but said it wasn’t practical.

Despite this, he praised the plan as it compared to what other school districts offer.

“I do appreciate that we are able to stay fairly competitive with other districts in the area,” Larson said.