The setup
Trustees passed district administrators’ proposal to provide a general compensation increase of 2% for employees on midpoint pay grades, or the salary level that represents the market value of that job.
For example, an employee earning $18.39 per hour with a 2% midpoint hike will see a new hourly rate of $18.79, according to NISD officials.
Additionally, classroom teachers, counselors, librarians, nurses and other educational positions will get a $1,400 increase. District officials said they will increase the starting teacher salary to $60,320, too.
The board also approved a $1,100 one-time retention payment for full-time NISD employees who are active workers as of June 7, 2024, or who submit their notice to resign or retire by that date.
The payment will be made in June as a separate direct deposit payment from the employee’s regular payroll. Part-time employees, substitutes and temporary/seasonal staff will receive a smaller payment.
All retention payments will come from NISD’s allocation of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds, otherwise known as COVID-19 emergency relief funds.
What they’re saying
Leaders with the Northside Association of Federated Teachers, a teachers union in NISD, asked trustees to adopt a 2% pay increase for all teachers, counselors, librarians and nurses, and a 3% raise for all auxiliary and support staff. The union also proposed the district raise its starting wage for auxilary and support staff to $15 an hour. Union officials said such increases are needed to help NISD employees struggling with rising costs of living.
NISD Superintendent John Craft said district leaders wants to do all they can to extend an even bigger compensation package for employees, but with that package costing $17.8 million, NISD will face a $100 million budget shortfall in fiscal year 2024-25.
“We really are trying to target on keeping up with inflationary pressures, knowing how times are tough not only for educators but for our paraprofessional and auxiliary staff as well,” Craft said. “We’d love to do more; we’re just not in that position right now."
