Board approves 2025'26 compensation plan tied to HB2 allotments; trustees debate administrative compression adjustments
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Summary
The Socorro ISD board on June 24 approved a 2025'26 compensation plan that distributes state HB2 funds to classroom teachers through a tiered increase structure and provides a 1.5% midpoint increase for many support staff; administrators received a 1% midpoint adjustment after board debate about compression.
The Socorro ISD board on June 24 approved updates to the district's compensation plan for the 2025'26 school year that align pay increases with state guidance in House Bill 2 and district budget assumptions.
Chief human resources officer Selena Stiles told trustees that the state guidance required districts to identify classroom teachers separately for the HB2 classroom-teacher retention allotment. Administration proposed two teacher schedules: one specifically for classroom teachers and a second for non-classroom teachers, librarians and nurses so HB2 allotments can be distributed in compliance with TEA guidance.
Under the board-approved framework presented by Stiles:
- Classroom teachers: 1'2 years of experience receive a 1.5% increase off market midpoint; 3'4 years receive a $2,500 annual increase (inclusive of step); 5+ years receive a $5,000 annual increase (inclusive of step).
- Non-classroom teachers, librarians and nurses: 1.5% increase off market midpoint (includes step).
- Support staff (paraprofessionals, auxiliary, technology, clinic staff, professionals excluding administration): a 1.5% increase off midpoint.
- Administration: recommended 1% increase off midpoint; administration also proposed adjustments to certain administrative pay grades to address compression between teacher and administrator pay scales.
Stiles presented estimated budget impacts: approximately $11.5 million for classroom teacher increases (including steps), roughly $400,000 for non-classroom teachers/nurses/librarians, $900,000 for paraprofessionals/auxiliary/technology, and smaller amounts for other groups. She said salary increases are effective July 1 but will be paid on the Sept. 30 payroll as retroactive pay, reflecting timing for HB2 funding flow.
Trustee discussion focused on pay compression between experienced teachers and entry-level administrators. Trustee Woodcraft pressed for clarity on how many employees would be affected and argued for restraint on administrative adjustments while the district is still addressing a multi-year deficit and having made staff reductions earlier in the year. A motion to approve the compensation plan passed after debate; the board adopted the proposal with the amendments and implementation timeline proposed by administration.
Administration said it will continue to monitor staffing, special-education funding changes and pay-compression issues and may return to the board later in the year for additional adjustments if new state funds or programmatic changes warrant revisions.
