Lewisville ISD trustees on Tuesday approved a compensation resolution that puts House Bill 2 (HB2) raises for eligible teachers alongside districtwide midpoint increases for other employees, but administrators warned the proposal leaves a recurring budget gap.

The resolution formalizes administration’s pay recommendations for the 2025–26 school year after a presentation by Superintendent Doctor Rapp. "The compensation resolution just really solidifies what we're all agreeing to," Rapp told the board before the vote. The board approved the resolution 6-0.

The board’s action implements the HB2-directed increases for teachers: $2,500 for teachers in years three and four on the state teacher retention schedule and $5,000 for teachers in year five and above, as described by administration. For positions not covered by HB2, administration recommended a 3% midpoint raise. Rapp said that 3% of midpoint for some teacher-scale positions would average roughly $2,074 for teachers in years one and two and about $830 for instructional support positions.

The district’s tally for the compensation package was presented by administration as follows: salary costs of about $23.8 million; estimated health insurance contributions costing about $17.7 million; and district stipends estimated at about $9.4 million, producing a total compensation cost of roughly $50.9 million. Rapp told the board HB2 provides an estimated $17.2 million for the district’s raises; after accounting for other HB2 allotments the district still faces a projected $9.0 million deficit under the recommended package.

Rapp and staff emphasized that HB2 restricts which positions receive the teacher-specific raises. "Just because a position is on the teacher pay scale for us, HB2 does not qualify all of those positions on the teacher pay scale for these raises," Rapp said, noting counselors, diagnosticians and therapists typically receive district raises but are not automatically included in HB2’s teacher-targeted amounts.

Board members repeatedly stressed the package represented a minimal, baseline increase for staff. Trustee Buddy Bonner criticized the disparity between funding actions taken by the Legislature for other professions and the comparatively small increases for educators; other trustees echoed concerns that many nonteacher staff remain underfunded. Trustees also noted the recurring nature of the raises and that future budgets must sustain them.

Administration said next steps include publishing an update to staff if the board’s action stood, issuing salary letters by June 30 and returning in August with market-adjustment recommendations for positions below 95% of market. The board’s approval at the meeting was recorded as 6-0.

The board will consider adoption of the formal budget and related line items during the district’s August budget workshops, where administrators said they would revisit market adjustments and any further steps to close the projected deficit.