The background
As previously reported by Community Impact, Humble ISD officials proposed two possible compensation plans to the board of trustees during a May 23 budget workshop.
- Model 1: This compensation plan would cost an estimated $12.1 million, include a 3% general increase and bump HISD's starting teacher salary to $63,700. This plan would be implemented if the Legislature does not allocate additional funding to school districts in the upcoming biennium.
- Model 2: This compensation plan would cost an estimated $15.7 million, include a 4% general increase and bump HISD's starting teacher salary to $64,000. This plan would be implemented if the Legislature does allocate additional funding to school districts in the upcoming biennium.
The regular session of the 88th Texas Legislature concluded May 29 with legislators allocating no additional funding to school districts despite having a $33 billion surplus.
As school district funding in Texas is based on attendance, HISD Chief Financial Officer Billy Beattie said school districts are receiving less funding already as student attendance has still not recovered to prepandemic numbers. He added the financial challenges have been further compounded by inflation. According to the Texas comptroller's office, a 14.5% increase in costs was seen statewide between 2019—when the Legislature last met—and January.
“This has been a very unique budget cycle; I'll never forget this one,” Beattie said during a special-called board meeting June 29. “There [have been] no major legislation changes. It's a difficult and challenging situation for a lot of school districts. You'll see a lot of deficit budgets out there, tax rate elections, potentially eliminating homestead exemptions, salary freezes—it's across the board trying to make ends meet.”
While state legislators have already called two special sessions, topics to be addressed are limited to property tax reform and border security.
“The one thing I'll note is House Bill 3 was signed by the governor recently, and the state is in double overtime now in a second [special] session, so we'll see where things will go from here,” Beattie said. “There could be changes to come, but as we have a [July] 1 fiscal year, we must present you a budget to adopt by the start of our fiscal year.”
Current situation
Regardless of the financial challenges school districts are facing statewide, HISD trustees were able to pass a balanced budget for fiscal year 2023-24 that included $16.8 million in employee compensation enhancements. According to a June 30 district news release:
- The starting teacher salary will increase by $1,600 from $62,100 in the 2022-23 school year to $63,700 in the 2023-24 school year.
- Experienced teachers will receive raises ranging from $1,900-$2,900, depending upon years of experience—a 3% average minimum.
- Staff members holding nonteaching positions will receive a minimum 3% raise on average plus a $500 stipend to be paid in December and another $500 stipend to be paid in May.
- Hourly pay rates for newly hired HISD staff have also been raised. Bus aides as well as child nutrition and custodial workers will receive an hourly pay rate of $12.50; special education paraprofessionals will receive an hourly pay rate of $14.50; and bus drivers will receive an hourly pay rate of $20.
- Guest teachers will continue to earn $120 per day with 60 or more college hours, $130 per day if degreed, $140 per day if a Texas-certified teacher, and $175 per day if a retired HISD teacher.
During the 2021-22 school year—the most recent data available—the average teacher pay in Texas was $54,059, according to the Texas Association of School Boards.
Quote of note
“High-quality staff makes a difference,” HISD Superintendent Elizabeth Fagen said in a statement. “There is nothing more important to our students and our community. This is why even when the Legislature did not provide significant increases before we were required to set our FY [2023-24] budget, we moved forward with a 3% increase for all staff, and fought to remain a pay leader for teachers in our state and in the Houston area.”
