Arlington ISD board adopts 2025–26 compensation plan with targeted teacher raises

The Arlington ISD Board of Trustees on June 26 unanimously approved the district's 2025–26 compensation plan, adopting targeted raises for classroom teachers and a 3% market increase for most other staff, district officials said.

District staff presented the plan and trustees discussed it during the board's regular meeting after a brief recess. The package uses a mix of state-directed teacher retention allotments and local funds to deliver differentiated increases: $2,500 for teachers with three to four years of experience and $5,000 for teachers with five or more years of experience (funded through the state teacher retention allotment), a 3% market raise for teachers with one to two years of experience and for other additional certified staff, and a 3% midpoint raise for other full‑time staff. The board also approved raising the district contribution to employee health care by $33 per employee per month, a pay‑grade change for attendance clerks, and a $1,000 annual increase to the athletic trainer stipend.

Why it matters: trustees said the package aims to keep Arlington competitive in the Dallas–Fort Worth market while responding to legislative constraints that limit how the state money can be spent. Trustees and administrators framed the decision as a balance between immediate staff pay needs and the district's broader long‑term budget outlook.

Holly Stanbaugh and Scott Kale of district administration presented the recommendation and the salary schedule. Stanbaugh said the proposed schedule would set first‑year teacher pay at $66,100 and incorporate the state teacher retention allotment where eligible. She described the recommendation as a combination of the teacher retention allotment (from state legislation) and a local market increase for other staff categories.

Public comment and staff concerns: Parenza Reddick, an AVID coordinator with 29 years in Arlington ISD, used the board's open forum (scheduled immediately before the compensation item) to ask the district to clarify whether instructional support staff such as AVID coordinators would receive the $5,000 teacher increase. Reddick said AVID coordinators “teach fewer classes than the new legislative requirement to accommodate our additional AVID duties” and that coordinators perform districtwide instructional work supporting underserved students. Reddick handed a written list of coordinator duties to staff for the board’s review.

Trustee debate and state context: trustees praised the increase but repeatedly noted that the state legislature prescribed which employee classifications are eligible for the larger teacher raises. Trustee Wilbanks called the plan “an historic raise” for the district and said the board has worked to make Arlington a destination district. Trustee Mike (identified in the transcript by his first name only) described several funding constraints and said the district faces what he called a $13 million shortfall; Superintendent Doctor Smith replied that, in his view, “I don't believe we have a budget deficit. We have an appropriations deficit from the state.” Trustees and staff repeatedly referenced House Bill 2, the state teacher retention allotment, the basic allotment increase ($55 per student), TEA guidance on PEIMS coding, and limits on how directed state funds can be used.

Board action: Trustee McMorrow moved to approve the 2025–26 compensation plan adjustments as presented; Trustee Richardson seconded. The motion passed unanimously; all seven trustees voted in the affirmative.

What's next: administrators said staff will implement the adopted schedule and continue to seek TEA guidance where necessary to determine which positions qualify under state coding for the retention allotment. The district will also continue advocacy efforts at the state level, according to multiple trustees.