Alief ISD approves 3% midpoint raise and recruitment, retention incentives to hire certified teachers

The Alief ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously March 4 to adopt a compensation plan that includes a 3% midpoint increase for eligible staff and a targeted recruitment-and-retention incentive program for certified teachers.

CFO Emily Littlefield told trustees the 3% midpoint increase is intended to position the district competitively in the Houston-area job market and to aid spring recruiting. "We are asking for a 3 percent midpoint increase for all eligible staff," Littlefield said during the workshop presentation, and staff estimated that increase would cost approximately $9,000,000.

The district also proposed a two-part incentive: recruitment bonuses for newly hired certified teachers and a retention payment for current certified staff. Littlefield outlined the proposed recruitment amounts: $5,000 for full‑time bilingual and for full‑time special-education self-contained positions, $4,000 for other full‑time certified positions, and an $8,000 incentive for teachers who are TIA‑designated. Current certified teachers would receive a $3,000 retention payment. New-hire incentives would be paid in two installments — half in September 2025 and half in September 2026 — while returning teachers would receive their retention payment in September 2025.

Administration said funding for the 3% midpoint increase would come from voter-approved revenue (the district cited revenue tied to the voter authorization), and the retention incentive would be paid from current-year payroll underspending. The recruitment incentive was estimated at about $8,400,000. Trustees pressed for details on equity and eligibility; administrators said most eligible staff would receive the 3% increase and that details for other pay grades would come later in the budget process.

After discussion, Trustee Lily Truong moved to approve the compensation plan; Trustee Rick Moreno seconded. The board recorded a unanimous vote in favor (5–0), and then approved a separate resolution finding a public purpose for the recruitment-and-retention incentives and authorizing payment, also by a 5–0 vote.

The board approved the items during a March 4 workshop meeting; administrators said the earlier presentation date was chosen to support spring recruiting and job fairs. The district indicated further staffing changes and pay-grade adjustments may be brought to the board later in the 2025–26 budget process.

Outcome and next steps: The compensation plan and the incentive resolution were adopted. Staff will finalize implementation details, payroll timing and eligibility rules before payments in September 2025. The district said it will return with additional staffing and compensation items later in the budget season.