Goose Creek CISD approves 2% districtwide pay increase, delegates 2019-bond projects to job-order contracting amid state funding uncertainty

The Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District Board of Trustees approved a 2% general pay increase for all employees and authorized administration to use job-order contracting (JOC) to carry out capital projects funded by remaining 2019 bond interest at its June 2 regular meeting.

Board members voted to adopt the 2% increase as the district prepared required budget postings ahead of legislative deadlines. Bridget Clark, the district chief financial officer, told trustees that House Bill 2 — which had passed the legislature and was on the governor’s desk — added targeted teacher and staff allotments that substantially change how raises will be funded at the state level but left many implementation details to fall rule-making. Clark said the bill’s $8.5 billion package included teacher pay components, a new allotment for district basic costs and an increase to some safety allotments, but that the final rules and calculations would be issued later by the Texas Education Agency.

“Because of publication and adoption timelines we recommended approving a 2% general pay increase now and, if House Bill 2 is finalized, amend the budget and compensation accordingly,” Clark told the…