Northeast ISD outlines pay-plan tied to HB2, projects revenue and budget trade-offs

The Northeast Independent School District on Tuesday reviewed a compensation package tied to Texas House Bill 2 and a multi-year budget forecast that administrators say balances mandated teacher raises with targeted pay adjustments for other staff.

At a budget study session, Susie Lockhorn, the district’s executive director of finance and accounting, and other administrators explained how HB 2 requires classroom teachers to receive $2,500 if they have three to four years of experience and $5,000 for five or more years, and described recommended adjustments for bus drivers, instructional assistants and custodial staff. Lockhorn said the district has modeled the mandated teacher allotments and is recommending additional targeted increases to address hiring and retention challenges.

Administrators emphasized the trade-offs in the forecast. Lockhorn said a 1 percent across-the-board raise would cost about $4.2 million in the general fund. She told the board the allotment for classroom teachers and related HB 2 revenue would cover the mandated increases, and that roughly $19.6 million of HB 2-era revenue is being directed to raises districtwide. The presentation included a one-time 1.5 percent retention supplement…