A $0.90 raise to the average hourly pay for Spring ISD custodians was granted by the district’s board of trustees Nov. 14, but several board members expressed a desire for an additional pay increase in the future.

The overview

SISD’s board of trustees approved raises for a group of the district’s auxiliary employees, which includes custodians, as well as a 7% raise to hourly pay ranges Nov. 14. The raises have an estimated cost of about $273,000, according to Nov. 9 board meeting presentation materials.

• The new average hourly pay for this group is $13.73, while the previous average hourly rate was $12.83.
• The new hourly pay rates range from $12.84-$17.38, while the previous hourly rates ranged from $12-$16.24.

SISD currently has a vacancy rate of 26% or more for custodians, who play an important role in the district, board President Justine Durant said Nov. 14.

“We are looking at challenges with the budget right now, and we're having to make cuts, but we also have to make decisions [that are] in the best interest of staff and students as well,” Durant said. “We're finding that we can't staff a critical role like this. We need to take action.”

Administrators will work to raise custodian pay again in the next budget cycle, said Terrell D. King, SISD’s chief of human resources.

The context

For average custodian pay in the 2022-23 school year, SISD ranked 10th against other local school districts, according to Nov. 9 presentation materials. The average hourly pay for custodians—at school districts and nonschool districts—was $14.67 for the 2022-23 school year, while SISD’s average pay was $12.91 during this time.