First-year teachers at Spring ISD can expect a starting salary of $54,000 this school year following a unanimous vote by the SISD board of trustees Aug. 13. The board previously approved a 2019-20 starting teacher salary of $53,400 in June—up from $52,275 in 2018-19. However during the board’s workshop meeting Aug. 8, trustees and district officials discussed the possibility of further increasing the district’s starting teacher salary to stay competitive with neighboring districts. With the implementation of House Bill 3, Klein ISD approved a 5.61% increase in July from $52,600 in 2018-19 to $55,550 in 2019-20, while Cy-Fair ISD approved a 2.78% increase in June from $54,000 to $55,500. With the most recent increase, SISD has increased its starting teacher salary by 3.3% from 2018-19.

A new police chief

Also during the Aug. 13 board meeting, Judge Lincoln Goodwin, justice of the peace, Precinct 4, Place 1, swore in SISD’s new police chief, Kenneth Culbreath. “I’m just really grateful to be here. As many of you know—my family knows—law enforcement and being part of a community and protecting the weak and those who need to grow has just been a passion of mine for my entire life,” Culbreath said during the meeting. “So, to be part of an organization—a family—such a Spring [ISD] and with the ultimate responsibility of helping kids grow and grow their lives—there’s no better job in the world than to be a police chief for a school district, so thank you." Culbreath is replacing former SISD Police Chief Victor Mitchell. To view the full Aug. 13 agenda, click here.