District Outlines New Teacher Salary Increases and Budget Challenges for 2023

The Northside Independent School District (NISD) held a board meeting on July 15, 2025, focusing on employee compensation and funding allocations. The meeting highlighted the district's commitment to investing in its workforce, particularly through new salary allotments introduced by House Bill 2.

Key discussions centered around three main funding allotments aimed at enhancing staff salaries. The first is the Teacher Retention Allotment (TRA), which provides a $2,500 pay increase for teachers with three to four years of experience and a $5,000 increase for those with more than three years. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to retain qualified educators amid ongoing staffing challenges.

The second allotment is the Support Staff Retention Allotment, which is calculated based on student enrollment and attendance. This funding is designated for non-administrative staff and aims to provide a general pay increase of 1.28%. However, the board acknowledged that this figure is conservative and may not fully address the needs of support staff.

The third allotment, referred to as the ABC allotment, is intended to cover basic operational costs, including utilities and transportation, rather than salary increases. The district's leadership emphasized the importance of careful budgeting to ensure that any salary increases do not compromise essential services.

Board members also discussed the implications of these funding sources on the overall compensation plan. While the TRA is mandated by law, the board is considering additional adjustments for non-exempt staff to align with a proposed $15 minimum wage. This adjustment would require a significant financial commitment, estimated at approximately $24.7 million, to avoid salary compression issues among various pay grades.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to systematically work towards achieving the $15 entry rate for all hourly positions while maintaining equity across pay grades. The board plans to continue evaluating compensation strategies in future meetings to ensure that all staff members are adequately supported and compensated for their contributions to the district.