The Northside ISD board voted June 13 to approve the 2023-24 school year compensation package, which features a 3% midpoint pay increase for all staff along with a $2,000 hike for classroom teachers and other employee groups on the teacher hiring schedule.

What happened?

Trustees also approved a one-time payment to employees hired on or before Sept. 1. District officials said the one-time supplement is intended to help retain existing employees and recruit new hires.

Payment amounts would be differentiated by employee categories with most employees receiving $1,200, district officials said.

According to NISD officials, the new compensation package increases the general fund expenditure budget by $25 million, and NISD has increased employee compensation by more than $148 million since 2019.

The big picture

NISD leaders said it is crucial that they keep pace in a competitive job market while filling teacher shortages, especially in the areas of special education and bilingual education.

What they’re saying

Superintendent John Craft, who replaced the recently retired Superintendent Brian Woods, said it is important to show how much NISD employees are valued.

“Our employees are the heart of this organization. We value their work and wanted to make sure we could increase compensation for them in the new school year,” Craft said in a statement. “We remain hopeful and will continue to advocate to state legislators that funding be allocated to further improve employee compensation.”