In a nutshell
Darrin Rice, CISD's chief financial officer, said because the state Legislature has not yet passed funding for teacher raises, district officials are recommending paying teacher stipends.
- Employees will receive a $1,200 or $600 stipend depending on employment status.
- The one-time cost of the stipends is $11 million.
- Funds for the stipend are coming out of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief fund.
- To qualify, an employee must have been employed on or before Sept. 15, 2023, and remain employed in the district until May 23, 2024.
- Full-time employees will receive the first $600 in October and the second $600 in November.
- Part-time employees will receive two $300 stipends in October and November.
"We are very hopeful, fingers crossed, that there will be more coming to our teachers," Board President Skeeter Hubert said. "It's a very difficult task to have a balanced budget, which we strongly believe in as a district, without going into a deficit but still finding a way to reward our teachers. So I hope [the stipends] is showing our commitment to them and our support for what they are doing."