Cypress‑Fairbanks ISD adopts 2025–26 budget including staff compensation plan amid calls for higher paraprofessional pay

The Cypress‑Fairbanks Independent School District Board of Trustees adopted the 2025–26 budget, including the district’s staff compensation plan, at its June 23 regular meeting.

Board Trustee Lucas moved to adopt the 2025–26 budget and to authorize the superintendent to retroactively adjust staff salaries as needed to implement market adjustments from the 2025 salary study and to maintain compliance with legislation and regulatory interpretations; a second was made and the motion carried (outcome approved, vote tally not specified in the public transcript).

The budget package presented to the board and discussed at committee meetings includes general salary increases for staff, reinstatement of school bus routes, continued funding for safety and IT security, and several stipends. The motion also specifically authorized the superintendent to implement recommended market adjustments after the district’s 2025 salary study and to apply regulatory guidance that may be issued following the 80th Texas Legislature.

Why this matters: trustees and district leaders said the budget reflects limited new state funding and local revenue constraints, while trying to protect classroom services and restore core functions such as transportation. Several trustees noted the district still faces a structural funding gap and said future rounds of cuts or additional revenue will be necessary to maintain services.

Public comment before the vote focused heavily on paraprofessionals’ pay. Dozens of staff and parents testified that many paraprofessionals earn wages they described as below a living standard. Testimony included multiple first‑hand accounts from paraprofessionals and allied staff:

- Anissa Bax, a paraprofessional who works with students with behavioral and emotional challenges, described personal hardship including a past eviction and lengthy commutes tied to low pay: “I love my students. Many of my colleagues have the same struggles … we are not 4% as much as we care,” she said.

- Taylor Gibson, who works one‑on‑one with a student who requires full personal care, said a 4% raise would not reflect the “critical hands‑on emotional labor” paraprofessionals provide.

- Caitlin Wennerabonte, a speech‑language pathologist, warned that chronic staff turnover among paraprofessionals undermines progress for high‑needs special education students and increases demand for costlier interventions.

Board discussion acknowledged those concerns. Several trustees and the superintendent reiterated that the board directed priorities toward salary increases, bus restoration and maintaining reserves, but also warned the district’s improved state funding does not erase long‑term budget shortfalls. Trustees and staff noted federal and state funding changes following the recent legislative session, and one trustee said the district received an additional $62,000,000 in state funding this legislative cycle (as presented during board comments), while also reminding the public that the district continues to seek relief for a local optional homestead exemption shortfall estimated in remarks at about $65,000,000 (figures provided by trustees during public remarks; not independently verified in the meeting record).

What the budget vote does and does not do: the board’s motion authorized implementation of the compensation plan as drafted and delegated to the superintendent the authority to make retroactive salary adjustments required by the market study and by forthcoming regulatory guidance. The motion did not set aside additional targeted supplemental amounts for paraprofessionals beyond the compensation plan adopted; multiple speakers urged the board to revisit that allocation in future budget cycles.

Clarifying details from the meeting record: - Public commenters cited individual paraprofessional salaries below $22,000 and below $23,000 as examples of current pay levels; those figures were presented during public comment and were not adjusted or itemized in the board’s budget motion. - Trustees referenced a prior 2024 projected shortfall of about $138,000,000 and ongoing pressure on the district’s fund balance; the budget adopted was described by trustees as containing measures to preserve reserves while addressing priority needs.

Next steps: the superintendent was authorized to finalize and implement compensation adjustments consistent with the board motion and the 2025 salary study; trustees said they expect continued monitoring and additional discussion of retention, recruitment and targeted pay actions at upcoming committee meetings.

Votes and formal action: the record shows a formal motion to adopt the 2025–26 budget and staff compensation plan (mover: Lucas; second: recorded) and that the motion passed. The transcript does not include a roll‑call tally by name in the public portion of the record.