Boerne ISD canvasses tax ratification election; superintendent outlines $4.8M plan for staff pay and benefits
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Summary
The Boerne ISD board formally canvassed the Nov. 4 voter-approval tax ratification election and Superintendent Dr. Kraft detailed a $4.8 million annual package — about 80% for staff compensation — that raises starting teacher pay, funds stipends for special education and increases district health-care contributions.
The Boerne Independent School District board on Nov. 17 adopted an order canvassing the results of the Nov. 4 voter-approval tax ratification election and heard Superintendent Dr. Kraft explain how the newly approved funding will be used.
Dr. Kraft told the board the election will generate roughly $3.0 million locally and about $1.8 million from the state, for a total of $4.8 million in recurring revenue. "Eighty percent of those dollars go toward retaining and recruiting staff," she said, and administrators will move quickly to implement the plan.
The superintendent gave a breakdown of the first-year allocations she said administrators had budgeted: roughly $1,993,997 targeted to teachers, nurses, librarians and counselors; teacher stipends totaling about $427,000; approximately $600,000 directed to teacher assistants, paraprofessionals and similar positions; about $187,000 for auxiliary staff (child nutrition, bus drivers, custodial staff); and a set-aside of $500,000 to increase district contributions to employee health care premiums.
Dr. Kraft said employees will receive individualized compensation statements in December and that staff will get two checks that month — one for back pay and one reflecting the new rate — after HR and finance complete data entry and validation. "Every employee will see an impact," she said.
Campus leaders and district staff who spoke during the public-comment period credited the board and superintendent with the initiative. "This VADER was not just helpful, it was essential," said Shane Wilson, principal at Boerne High School, praising changes that he said will "raise our starting teacher salary to $60,000" and fund stipends for hard-to-retain special-education roles.
Trustees and administrators emphasized that the effort required sustained community engagement and adherence to election rules. Dr. Kraft said the district intentionally limited communications during the campaign to "facts only" reviewed by legal counsel; board members thanked volunteers, PTOs and principals who hosted meetings and informed voters.
No further formal actions on the VADER allocation were taken at the meeting; Dr. Kraft said district leaders will bring implementation details and compensation schedules to staff and principals in December.