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Staff and union presses Del Valle ISD trustees for across-the-board raises and higher hourly wages
Summary
Multiple staff and union representatives urged the board for larger, across-the-board raises — including a $3-per-hour boost for hourly workers and a 4% raise for certified and administrative staff — citing high turnover and the exclusion of some roles from state raises.
Dozens of employees and union leaders told the Del Valle ISD Board of Trustees on April 23 that proposed increases do not meet workers’ needs and leave many staff behind.
Jessica Marquez, a math teacher and president of the Del Valle Education Association, asked the board to implement a $3-per-hour raise for paraprofessionals and a 4% raise for teachers and administrators, saying the district must ensure that “1 job should be enough.” She warned that last year’s increases did not stop high turnover: “396 employees left at the end of the 2024–25 school year,” Marquez said, tying departures to pay and retention concerns.
Several special-services staff made similar points. Kaylee Irvin, a bilingual speech-language pathologist, told trustees that many SLPs are on the administrative pay scale and missed teacher raises; she urged a 4% increase “across the board” so roles that don’t qualify for the Teacher Incentive Allotment are not left behind. Melissa Miller, also an SLP, said her team is “understaffed, under supported, overwhelmed and burning out.”
The board heard multiple firsthand accounts of how low hourly pay affects families, with speakers urging the trustees to consider fund balance and neighborhood impacts when weighing compensation choices. No formal salary decision was made at the meeting; several speakers requested that the board prioritize equitable application of any raises to preserve staffing and student services.
