What’s happening?
In an effort to stay competitive with school districts around the area, FISD officials are looking to pass a new salary plan that could bring with them different kinds of increases for workers within the district.
At the district’s June 12 meeting, the school board heard three possible scenarios to increase salaries and pay, all of which come with their own costs.
Those scenarios are:
- A 2% salary increase for administration, food service, maintenance, mechanics, support staff, nonteaching professionals and teachers as well as a $0.50-per-hour raise for custodial staff
- A 1% salary increase for administration, food service, maintenance, mechanics, support staff, nonteaching professionals and teachers as well as a $0.50-per-hour raise for custodial staff along with a conditional 2% increase for all employees
- A 1% salary increase for administration, food service, maintenance, mechanics, support staff, nonteaching professionals and teachers as well as a $0.50-per-hour raise for custodial staff along with a conditional $500 increase for teachers based on a scale
The conditions
Despite officials’ pitches, the scenarios that are ultimately considered could be much different when the board looks at the plans again in July, board President Tony Hopkins said.
Those new plans could be affected by the action the state does or doesn’t take, Hopkins said. He said due to the state’s lack of action thus far, the board could have to make “uninformed decisions” in the meantime.
“Every district is in the same boat about not knowing what the state is going to do or if they’re going to do anything,” Hopkins said.
On the other hand, the district is considering calling a voter-approved tax ratification election for November, which would ask voters to raise the district’s tax rate to help them with revenue.
The district would need to call for the vote by August for it to appear on November ballots, Hopkins said.
District documents show the election could reduce the district’s deficit by more than $1.6 million, but much uncertainty remains on that front too, Hopkins said.
Diving in deeper
While increasing salaries could add to the district’s deficit, Friendswood ISD officials are also looking up at nearly all other districts in the area as it sits close to the bottom of the list in teacher salaries offered.
Compared to bordering districts, which include Alvin ISD, Clear Creek ISD, Dickinson ISD and Pearland ISD, FISD is at the bottom in each five-year pay scale category for those with up to 25 years of teaching experience, according to district documents.
When that list is expanded to include Galveston ISD, Pasadena ISD, Santa Fe ISD and Texas City ISD, the district is closer to the market average the more experienced a teacher is, according to district documents. The district is nearly $2,700 under the market average for new teachers but a little less than $200 under the average for 25-year teachers.
