Plano ISD presents two pay-path options to raise teacher starting pay, board hears budget gap

Plano ISD officials outlined two options to raise starting teacher pay and spread higher increases across experience steps, presenting tradeoffs between competitiveness and budget impact. District leaders told the Board of Trustees on May 6 that increasing the starting salary would lift pay across the entire teacher schedule and that a parallel 'decompression' of steps would reward longevity.

Superintendent Teresa Williams and Deputy Superintendent Johnny Hill led the discussion, which centered on two modeled packages: one that raised the starting salary to roughly $62,200 and a second, more aggressive package with a $63,000 starting salary and larger step increases. The district's human-resources presenters said the measures would improve recruitment,…