ISD 279 board approves two-year teachers' contract with phased raises

The Independent School District 279 School Board unanimously approved a two-year contract for licensed educators covering July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027. Yvonne Schwartzland, the district's executive director of human resources, summarized the agreement and its key components during the meeting.

Schwartzland said the contract will raise base pay by 2.5% in the first year and 3% in the second year and will apply proportional increases to pro rata (hourly) schedules. She also described changes to insurance contributions (a 10% adjustment in year one and an 8% adjustment in year two to the HSA plan), clarifications to emergency substitute language and additional responsibilities for teachers covering leaves, and three memoranda of understanding to form labor-management committees on workload and scheduling and to address early childhood and adult-education programs. "In year 1, compensation will be increased by 2.5 percent, to the base salary," Schwartzland said.

Board Chair Tanya Prince moved the motion to approve the agreement on the terms printed in the meeting packet; Director Thomas Brooks moved the motion, and Director Keith Tate seconded it on the floor. The board voted 6-0 to ratify the contract.

The presentation said the package represents an 8.87% total package increase for the bargaining unit and that the membership covered by the agreement is about 2,300 licensed educators (teachers, social workers, counselors and other licensed positions). The transcript records a dollar figure that appears garbled; the exact total-dollar amount for the term was not clear in the meeting record and is not specified here. HR said payroll and implementation work will begin following ratification.