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Paraprofessionals and teachers urge NEISD to ease costs, maintain benefits amid budget pressure
Summary
Paraprofessionals and teachers addressed the board asking for steps to support retention amid constrained budgets: requests included freezing insurance premiums, expanding classroom reimbursements to paraprofessionals, compensation for extra classes, and reimbursement for certification costs.
Employees and union representatives told the Northeast ISD board the district should pursue non‑salary actions to support retention and affordability for school-year staff amid financial pressure.
Teresa Heard, a NEISD paraprofessional and vice president of the Educational Support Professionals of Northeast Education Association, asked the board to consider freezing employee health-care insurance costs and extending classroom-supply reimbursements to paraprofessionals. “One of the biggest ways you could help is by freezing health care insurance costs. For many of us working in support roles, any increase in premiums can be the difference between financial stability and financial stress. Me, especially, I had to give up health care so that way I could pay more bills,” Heard said.
Classroom teachers and union representatives emphasized similar steps. David Anderson, a classroom teacher and NEA member, and Tom Cummins, representing AFT, urged district leaders to freeze healthcare premiums, fairly compensate teachers asked to cover additional classes, extend and increase classroom reimbursement amounts, and reimburse certification-exam fees. Cummins highlighted state-level funding concerns in the legislature and said the basic allotment increase in the house bill is insufficient to meet inflationary needs. “The basic allotment increase in HB 2 is only 395 dollars while an increase of about $1,300 per student is needed just to keep up with inflation,” Cummins said.
Board members and the superintendent acknowledged the district’s fiscal constraints and said they appreciated the suggestions. The board did not take immediate action but heard the requests during the Matters from the Floor portion; trustees and administration said they will consider options as budget development continues.
