Arlington ISD board adopts 2025–26 compensation plan, with teacher-targeted raises and 3% increase for other staff

The Arlington ISD Board of Trustees on June 26 unanimously adopted the district202526 compensation plan, approving teacher-targeted increases funded in part by state legislation and a 3% market raise for other full-time staff.

Board members voted to approve the administrative recommendation, which applies a $2,500 raise to teachers with three to four years of experience and a $5,000 raise to teachers with five or more years of experience through the stateteacher retention allotment tied to House Bill 2. The plan also includes a 3% market raise for teachers in their first one to two years, a 3% market raise for additional certified staff, a 3% midpoint raise for all other full-time staff, and a proposed $33 per employee per month increase in the districthealthcare contribution.

The administration presented a new teacher salary schedule that would set first-year teacher pay at $66,100 under the recommended plan. During the presentation, district staff framed the package as a combination of state directives and locally funded adjustments: the retention allotment provides the $2,500 and $5,000 supplements, while the district budget covers the market and midpoint increases for employees not eligible under the state-defined classroom-teacher code.

The board discussion emphasized the limits placed by the Legislatureon how state funds may be allocated. Trustee McMorrow, who moved to approve the plan, said the board would continue advocacy at the state level while taking local steps to support staff. Trustee Mike summarized the boardposition by noting legal and audit restrictions on reclassifying staff to broaden eligibility for state-funded raises and by urging continued legislative advocacy. Trustee Wilbanks said, "This is an historic raise. It's an historic time in this district," while also calling the state's distribution "very prescriptive" and unequal across districts.

A public speaker during open forum, Parenza Redick, an AVID coordinator with 29 years in AISD, asked the board to clarify whether AVID coordinators and similar instructional support staff would qualify for teacher-targeted funds. Redick said AVID coordinators "teach fewer classes than the new legislative requirement to accommodate our additional AVID duties" and urged the district to revisit job classifications if necessary to ensure equity.

Board members and administrators repeatedly described the Legislatureactions as directing funds to a narrowly defined set of employee codes and noted Arlington ISD's local budget constraints, including a cited $13 million operative shortfall discussed by trustees. The boardunanimously approved the compensation plan; Trustee McMorrow moved to approve "the 2025, 2026 compensation plan adjustment as presented," the motion was seconded by Trustee Richardson, and the vote was recorded as unanimous.

Administration thanked board members and staff following the vote. Superintendent Dr. Smith said the district had been planning conservatively and characterized the shortfall as "an appropriations deficit from the state," not a local mismanagement of funds.

The approval means the district will implement the new teacher schedule, the retention allotment supplements where employees meet the state definitions, a 3% pay increase for the other covered employees, and the healthcare-contribution increase pending implementation steps by HR and finance.

The board did not adopt any additional reclassifications during the meeting and noted that eligibility for the state-funded supplements depends on state PEIMS coding and TEA guidance the district does not control. Trustees said they will continue to press legislators for a larger basic allotment and greater flexibility for districts.

Votes at a glance: motion to approve the 202526 compensation plan adjustment as presented; mover: Trustee McMorrow; second: Trustee Richardson; outcome: approved unanimously (all trustees voting yes).