Sherman ISD board approves 2025–26 pay plan, including $3,100 bump for starting teachers

The Sherman Independent School District Board of Trustees approved the district's 2025–26 compensation plan Thursday, a package administrators said will raise starting teacher pay, increase auxiliary and clerical wages and keep the district budget balanced.

District staff presented a pay-plan framework that would raise the district's proposed starting teacher salary by $3,100 to reach $60,000, create a 6% increase for auxiliary staff, a 4% increase for certain professional staff and targeted 3% to 4% increases across administrative pay grades. The presentation summarized the district's modeling of 1%–4% compensation scenarios returned from the state comparison process.

School officials said the package responds to new funding tied to House Bill 2 and to recent local market movement. Dr. O'Neil (district official) told the board that with the HB 2 funding increases and other state revenue expected, the district will be able to implement the pay changes and "maintain a balanced budget." Administrators said a final budget amendment will follow when updated state funding templates are released.

Administrators described the cost breakdown presented to the board: meeting only the HB 2 minimum would require about $2.15 million; the proposal to raise new teachers to $60,000 added roughly $600,000 more, bringing the teacher portion higher; combined increases across teacher, auxiliary, clerical and administrative categories totaled about $4,174,830.01 in projected annual cost, according to the district's figures. The district reported the state's additional ADA (average daily attendance) allotment would cover about $300,000 of the total and that other state funding lines would cover additional portions.

The pay plan as approved preserves current stipend dollar amounts for the coming year but directs district staff to conduct a review of stipend titles, duties and alignment later in the year before any stipend-value changes are proposed. Board members asked multiple questions about which portions of the package come directly from HB 2 allotments versus local or other state funds; administrators reiterated that HB 2 covers required components but not the full cost of the supplemental increases for auxiliaries and clerical staff.

Trustee Jennifer (Trustee) moved to approve the "SISD compensation plan for 2025–26 as presented." Trustee David (Trustee) seconded. The board approved the measure by voice vote.

Board members and administrators noted the district's aim to remain competitive in Grayson County and to reduce turnover in positions that compete with the private sector, such as maintenance and custodial staff. Administrators said the district will continue to monitor surrounding districts' pay-plan announcements and may bring further adjustments to future meetings.

Clarifying details discussed included: the $3,100 increase to reach $60,000 for starting teachers; the district's reported $4,174,830.01 total package cost; the state-provided portion cited by staff as roughly $2.15 million toward HB 2 requirements; and an estimated $300,000 from the additional ADA allotment. The board voted to approve the plan, and staff will return with a budget amendment when updated state templates are available.

The board moved on to other business after the vote; administrators said they would publish the full pay-plan schedule to staff and include the stipend review timeline in future materials.