Board approves special-education stipend increases and police officer incentive allotment

Hutto ISD trustees voted May 28 to approve proposed increases to special-education stipends and to authorize a new police officer incentive allotment designed to recruit and retain school-based officers.

Administration outlined stipend increases for classroom special-education positions, early-childhood special education, speech-language pathologists and assistants, school psychologists, diagnosticians, occupational and physical therapists and behavioral specialists; the estimated budget impact for the stipend package is $334,500. The superintendent’s presentation described the increases as a competitive response to regional labor markets and a tool for retention.

Chief Gavin described a five-tier incentive allotment for school-based law enforcement tied to measurable criteria — professional reliability, professional development, physical fitness, mastery of critical skills (including a 90% standard on rifle and pistol proficiency) and campus/community integration — and said exemplary performance could yield up to $7,000 annually per officer. "If everybody is exceeding and excelling and doing everything that they should be doing at the highest possible level, it's up to $7,000 per officer," he said.

Trustees asked about measurable metrics, oversight and whether components of the stipend reflect duties that are already part of the job; presenters said qualification standards for each tier will be detailed in board materials and that the allotments mirror approaches used in neighboring districts or police agencies. The motion to approve the proposed compensation request passed by voice vote.