Harlandale ISD reviews House Bill 2 impacts on pay, approves notice to post 2025 tax rate

Harlandale ISD trustees on June 5 held a special call meeting to continue budget talks for the 2025–26 school year, reviewed preliminary state funding from House Bill 2 and its eligibility rules for teacher and support-staff pay increases, heard two public commenters urge retention of an attendance stipend and better custodial supplies, and approved posting the proposed 2025 tax rate for public notice under Texas Education Code §44.004.

The matter is consequential because HB2 includes targeted pay increases and a new support-staff retention allotment but ties those dollars to specific eligibility rules the district said remain unclear. District staff presented preliminary revenue and expenditure projections and warned that the district still faces a multi‑million dollar shortfall, leaving the board to weigh how much of the state money can be used locally and whether district funds will be needed to top up pay for staff the state excludes.

Two community speakers urged the board to protect staff pay and campus needs. Maricruz Martinez, identified in the record as HEA local president, asked the board to ensure raises include newer teachers and to preserve a $1,000 teacher attendance stipend that she said is at risk of being tied to campus ratings and student attendance beyond teachers’ control. "Please listen to and protect us, the employees that work on our campuses and in our classrooms daily,"…