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Trustees debate higher raises for staff; ultimately approve administration's compensation plan
Summary
After heated debate and an initially failed amendment seeking larger raises, the McAllen ISD board approved the administration's compensation plan for 2026–27 (teachers: $1,000 or equivalent, administrators 1%, support staff 3%). Trustees left open the option for future amendments pending financial and legal review.
Trustees on the McAllen Independent School District board debated employee pay increases at length on June 23 before approving the administration's compensation plan for school year 2026–27.
Trustee Salope Lopez moved an amendment to raise teacher pay by 2%, support staff by 3% and administrators by 1%, which she estimated would cost about $5.8 million (roughly $1.6 million above the administration's proposal). The board engaged in a sustained discussion about fiscal sustainability, structural deficits, the district's fund balance and the need for a concrete plan to make any additional recurring compensation sustainable. Several trustees supported the larger increase as a reflection of employee contributions; others cautioned that recurring raises without offsets could create longer-term budgetary pressure.
Trustees rescinded and tabled the amendment to allow legal and financial staff to assess posting and procedural implications. After closed-session consultation with counsel and further discussion, trustees voted to approve the administration's proposed compensation package as presented: the teacher increases structured around a $1,000 baseline for eligible teachers (with additional state-funded allotments affecting total pay by years of service), a 1% increase for administrators, and a 3% increase for auxiliary/support staff. The motion to approve administration's plan passed in open session by a majority vote.
Board members requested that administration return with a plan showing how any future adjustments could be made sustainable (for example, through attrition savings or identified operational efficiencies) and recommended staff provide more definitive metrics before moving forward with additional recurring pay increases.
The approved compensation plan will be implemented in the coming fiscal year; trustees noted any payroll timing and state funding interactions that affect when employees will see increases in paychecks.
