Eanes ISD trustees approve 2% midpoint raise for all staff

The Eanes ISD board of trustees approved a 2% compensation increase for staff in the 2021-22 school year. The unanimous decision, made during the May 25 board meeting, follows multiple weeks of deliberation by the board.

The adjustment includes a 2% increase for teachers, nurses and librarians based on a teacher’s midpoint salary—the middle of an employee’s salary scale which progresses based on years of experience. All other staff will receive a 2% increase based on the midpoint salary for each respective pay grade, according to district information.

Additionally, the board approved a 2% increase on all district stipends, as well as a 2% increase for substitute compensation and supplemental pay rates. EISD will also maintain its monthly contribution to employee’s benefits at the rate of $473.

Several trustees, including board President John Havenstrite and trustee Heather Sheffield, noted the board’s desire to allocate higher raises if that action was financially achievable. Notably, the increase will follow a year of salary freezes as a result of budgetary constraints spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In part, these fiscal constraints can be attributed to the state funding EISD receives, which officials have frequently stated is less than that of neighboring school districts.

“The factor that contributes most to our inability to pay our staff what we want is the Texas school finance structure,” Havenstrite said. “If the structure was different we would have more revenue, and we would pay our staff more.
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Havenstrite also addressed the EISD community in a statement released following the meeting.

"Our teachers and staff have persevered through an incredibly tough year, and we are grateful for everything they've done for our kids," he said in his statement.