Spring ISD approved the purchase of a new central office building at a June 9 meeting.[/caption]

Spring ISD The board of trustees approved pay increases June 9 for the 2015-16 school year for teachers, crossing guards and bus drivers to provide competitive salaries to help attract and retain employees.

First-year teachers will receive a $51,500 salary, a $3,000 increase from last year, while all other teachers will receive a proportional $3,260 increase in salary, or a 6 percent raise, district officials said. Bus drivers will see their hourly wage increase by $1.25 to $15.05 per hour while crossing guards can expect a $2 raise to $12 per hour.

“Our staff —especially our teachers, bus drivers and crossing guards— interact with our students every single day,” SISD Superintendent Rodney Watson said. “The work these staff members do is important, and I want to ensure that they are compensated at a level that is appropriate.”

The board has also approved several facility changes in recent months.

A fast-growing prekindergarten population has pushed SISD to uncouple Clark Primary School from Clark Intermediate School, two schools that previously operated under the same administration. The two campuses have more than 1,700 combined students, which is too many pupils for one principal to manage, SISD Chief Academic Officer Lupita Hinojosa said.

The board voted to separate the two schools at the June 9 meeting. Meanwhile, the district approved two other facility upgrades during closed-door sessions in March. SISD will renovate and repurpose its Support Services Center to house its Disciplinary Alternative Education Program.

SISD also approved the purchase of a new central office building—called One Park Centre—at 14450 T.C. Jester Blvd. After outgrowing the Gordon M. Anderson Leadership Center, the district has been using portable buildings, and many departments are unable to be housed together, district officials said. Staff will begin making the move in July.