Austin Independent School District’s Board of Trustees voted on Thursday to enter into a new contract with Education Austin, the union representing district teachers and staff.
Trustees moved to authorize significant pay increases for district employees, seemingly across the board.
“This is the most significant pay raise in district history. … Education Austin members continue to organize and fight for a better reality. The 9-0 passage of this agreement affirms our work and AISD’s commitment to its employees,” said the union’s president, Ken Zarifis, per CBS Austin reporting.
The agreement includes a 7% raise on the pay scale for teachers, counselors, librarians, instructional coaches, and staff working with students with special needs. Bus drivers, support staff, and IT employees will also see a starting wage increase from $16 to $20. Bilingual and special education stipends will also be bumped to $7,000 annually.
“These raises projects we will have to use our savings based on current state funding. It is a much-needed investment in our employees who struggle with inflation and cost of living increases,” Chief Finance Officer Ed Ramos said at the meeting, according to KXAN. “We hope the state also chooses to invest in our students and teachers.”
Board members’ adoption of the compensation adjustment follows a similar, albeit more modest, change to Plano Independent School District’s pay schedule, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
A statewide teacher shortage has spurred school districts across Texas to boost educator pay to attract applicants in a competitive labor environment and encourage more people to enter the profession.
Some districts, however, have not prioritized ensuring veteran teachers are retained. At DISD, hardworking and experienced educators have reported feeling overlooked.
“[F]or many of the loyal employees that have been serving students for several to many years, their morale is much lower than the newer employees,” Alliance/AFT President Rena Honea previously told The Dallas Express.
“They’re demoralized because their expertise and experience are unrecognized and not respected,” Honea said.
