Teachers and staff at Klein ISD can see up to a 5.5% pay increase this coming school year—a historic raise for the district—following implementation of House Bill 3, the school finance reform bill. The KISD board of trustees unanimously approved its 2019-20 budget at its July 2 special meeting. "I just want to say [thank you] to the board for your vote tonight showing that if we want to invest in the promise to purpose of our students, we have to continue to invest in our employees," KISD Superintendent Jenny McGown said. "Thank you for what you did tonight to send that very clear message to all 7,000 of our employees." Partially as a result of HB 3, which directs $6.5 billion towards new public education spending, the district's compensation package includes salary increases, a retention incentive and a health insurance supplement, KISD Chief Financial Officer Dan Schaefer said. Teachers, counselors, librarians and nurses with six or more years of experience will receive a pay increase of 5.5% of a control point, or selected base salary, which equals $3,250 plus market adjustments. Teachers, counselors, librarians, and nurses with one to five years of experience will receive a pay increase of 5.25% of the control point, or $3,150 plus market adjustments. The starting teacher pay will increase from $52,600 to $55,550. All other employees will receive a pay increase of 4% of the control point, which depends on their pay range, plus market adjustments. A one-time $1,500 retention incentive will be given for teachers, counselors, librarians and nurses, and a one-time $1,000 will be given for other benefit-eligible, full-time employees who were employed by the district on May 31, 2019 and who are returning for the 2019-20 school year. Benefit-eligible teachers working less than full time will receive $750, while part-time employees who are not teachers will receive $500. Full-time or part-time status will be based on the 2018-19 school year. Previously scheduled reductions to district contributions for health insurance in the 2019-2020 school year will not occur. A one-time $300 health insurance supplement will be provided for all benefit-eligible full-time employees who were employed on May 31 of this year and are returning for the 2019-20 school year to help offset the rising cost of health insurance and premiums, according to KISD. Benefit-eligible employees working less than full time will receive half that amount. If approved, payment will be made in August. Including all additional incentives, returning teachers, counselors, librarians and nurses will receive between $4,950 and $5,050 in additional compensation.