Plano ISD board approves raises, $63,000 new‑hire teacher minimum and strategic pay plan

The Plano ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously Tuesday to approve employee raises, a new teacher hiring schedule and strategic compensation planning for the 2025–26 school year.

Deputy Superintendent Johnny Hill presented the board’s recommendation, saying the package includes “3% as a minimum raise for all staff” and a new starting salary recommendation of $63,000 for new teachers with a bachelor’s degree and $65,000 for those with a master’s degree. Hill and Chief of Employee Services Dr. Joanna Kendall told the board the plan also includes targeted market adjustments and strategic pay in hard‑to‑fill positions.

The compensation plan matters because it is intended to help Plano ISD recruit and retain staff after a multiyear effort to raise pay. “We really want to make sure we’re focused in on the recommendations and that would be 3% as a minimum raise for all staff,” Hill said, and he described the $63,000 figure as a district “standard” intended to set a competitive baseline.

Dr. Kendall explained how the increases will be applied: teachers will see raises of roughly 4%–8.5% depending on years of experience and placement on the new pay schedule, with some longevity increments described as fixed amounts for specified experience ranges. She said the district prepared two pay tables — one for base pay and one that includes master’s degrees — and noted the new hire schedule applies to “teacher types,” which include classroom teachers, nurses, librarians and other positions classified as teachers.

Budget figures presented at the meeting described projected costs: about $11,062,315 for the general 3% raises, $742,840 for market adjustments, $9,000,000 for strategic pay investments, roughly $2,300,000 for general staffing additions, and approximately $7,000,000 in payroll efficiencies the district expects to realize — a combined planning estimate the presentation described as “just over $16,000,000.” Hill and Dr. Kendall emphasized those totals are projections because actual cost will depend on final staffing and salaries during implementation.

Trustees discussed implementation details during the meeting. Trustee Tara Lance noted teacher supports such as the Plano ISD Education Foundation core store and local PTAs, and trustees asked for—and received—clarifications about how prior experience is credited for hires such as nurses and librarians. Dr. Kendall said prior experience is credited when it meets the district’s definition of a work year (about 90 days) and can be validated; she added that some experience outside accredited institutions may not qualify without documentation.

Board Vice President Nancy Humphrey moved approval of the compensation package; Trustee Catherine Goodwin seconded. The motion passed unanimously, 7–0.

The board and administrators said they expect the plan to take effect for the 2025–26 school year and that staff will be provided specific guidance on individual pay calculations after payroll implementation work is completed.

Trustees and staff repeatedly framed the package as part of a multi‑year effort to strengthen recruiting and retention. Dr. Kendall said the plan incorporates recently enacted state policy changes, and Hill noted the district’s actions “were already going to be history‑making” even before the legislature’s actions. The board did not take additional amendments at the meeting.