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Lamar CISD board approves teacher hiring schedule and staff salary adjustments amid $3.3 million shortfall
Summary
Trustees approved a teacher hiring schedule and staff salary actions for 2025–26, including a $65,700 starting teacher salary and a $2,000 flat raise for existing teachers, while administrators warned the district still faces an estimated $3.3 million budget deficit.
At a special meeting May 5, 2025, the Lamar Consolidated Independent School District Board of Trustees approved staff salaries and a teacher hiring schedule for the 2025–26 school year, including a recommended starting teacher salary of $65,700, a flat $2,000 raise for existing teachers and 3% of midpoint raises for other staff.
CFO Miss Ludwig presented detailed budget options and cost estimates. The presentation showed an exercise to align certain pay‑grade midpoints with neighboring comparison districts would cost roughly $1,445,000 in total adjustments; after accounting for raises already in the budget, the additional cost under that alignment scenario would be about $908,000. Ludwig also outlined targeted proposals for special education substitutes — including 10 paid days of training and five observation days — estimated at $187,500 (with $125,000 covered in the current fiscal year) and an increase to the self‑contained substitute rate estimated at $220,500. Adding two additional wellness days for self‑contained staff was estimated at about $147,000.
Superintendent Dr. Nevins told trustees, “we're still at a $3,300,000 deficit,” reflecting updated revenue and expenditure estimates that put projected revenues near $506,900,000 and expenditures near $510,200,000. Administrators said revenue assumptions remain subject to updated property‑value estimates and potential legislative action; the presentation noted current figures reflect existing law and state statutes.
The board voted on the specific salary and hiring‑schedule items at the meeting. Vice President Hotzell moved to approve staff salaries and the teacher hiring schedule “for the 2025–26 year, and other budgetary items as necessary”; Trustee Box seconded. The motion passed with no recorded opposition.
Officials said the board's action at this meeting covered the salary schedule and related personnel pay items; the overall budget will be discussed in follow‑up budget committee meetings and brought back to the board for final adoption. Staff said the finance team will continue analyzing revenue assumptions, potential expenditure reductions and options to generate revenue, such as revising facility rental procedures.
