Northeast ISD staff pay plan balances HB 2 requirements with district deficit, board told

NORTHEAST INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT ' Finance leaders presented a compensation and budget forecast to the Board of Trustees that uses state HB 2 allotments to guarantee teacher pay increases and adds targeted raises for other employee groups while reserving some new revenue to reduce a projected deficit.

The presentation on compensation and related budget forecasts was led by Susie Lockhorn, executive director of finance and accounting, and framed by Mr. Villarreal and Superintendent Dr. Micah. Lockhorn told trustees the district is building a package that implements the statute's mandated payments for classroom teachers and uses additional state allotments to make targeted adjustments for other roles.

The proposal follows HB 2, which Lockhorn summarized as requiring a $2,500 payment for classroom teachers with three to four years of experience and $5,000 for teachers with five or more years of experience, and as providing other discretionary allotments the district can use for pay and basic costs. Lockhorn said the district projects roughly $19.6 million in state revenue that must be spent on raises and is recommending additional targeted increases for bus drivers, instructional assistants, custodians and police officers. She told trustees a 1 percent across-the-board raise would cost the general fund…