New Caney ISD approves $206.4M budget including 2% general pay increase for staff

New Caney ISD trustees at an Aug. 16 board meeting approved an approximate $206.4 million budget for the 2021-22 school year that includes a 2% raise for all full-time district employees.

Trustees also approved a tax rate of $1.4603 per $100 valuation for the 2021-22 school year, down from last year’s rate of $1.4761 per $100 valuation.

According to Scott Powers, executive director of public relations for NCISD, the adopted budget includes a 2% salary increase for all full-time staff members based on the control point, or the midpoint salary, of each position. Additionally, Powers said full-time employees will also receive a $1,000 stipend paid out in two installments in the fall and spring semesters.

With the pay increase, Powers said NCISD will now pay teachers a starting salary of $59,000, up from $58,000 in the 2020-21 school year.

In other business, NCISD Superintendent Matt Calvert accepted a $55,000 donation from the district’s education foundation that will support continued education for teachers and staff.

“The most important thing we can invest in is our people,” Calvert said, noting the money will split into $1,000 scholarships. “We’re all learning. We’re all students in this district, and we never want to discourage anyone from doing that. Our foundation has stepped up and provided them the financial [support] to continue their education.”