Plano ISD staff propose 2% across‑the‑board raise, $64,000 starting pay for new teachers amid $43M shortfall

Plano ISD’s chief of employee services, Duane Bridal, presented the district’s compensation recommendation for 2026–27 and framed it against a projected budget shortfall. Bridal said the district’s goal is to remain competitive across roles and recommended a 2% employee raise for the first year alongside a proposed $64,000 starting salary for new teachers. "We do feel that 2% would be a reasonable, raise for that with the 64,000 new teacher hiring schedule," Bridal said.

Bridal reviewed recent compensation activity, saying returning teachers received an average increase of 6.92% in the prior cycle and that the district spent approximately $3.2 million last year to increase pay. He said the proposed 2% raise would cost roughly $7.4 million, market adjustments about $500,000 and position/staffing adjustments approximately $1.5 million; staff also estimated payroll efficiencies and attrition could yield about $7 million in offsets. Bridal cautioned the board that these proposals are being considered in the context of a minimum projected budget deficit of about $43,000,000.

Trustees asked several questions about benefits and pay‑band compression. Board members noted rising health‑insurance costs can offset pay increases for employees; district staff answered that health‑insurance rates for the next year are not yet finalized and that district practice is to try to spread limited resources broadly rather than concentrate them in benefits for a subset of employees. Trustees emphasized the need to balance competitiveness with sustainability and asked staff to continue refining scenarios and assumptions ahead of formal action.