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Keller ISD diagnostician urges higher pay, warns of staffing losses
Summary
A 12‑year Keller ISD educational diagnostician told the board that diagnostic and assessment staff are leaving because of low pay and cited district step and peer‑district comparisons, urging the board to address pay equity for support staff.
Cassie Thomason, who identified herself as a 12‑year Keller ISD employee and educational diagnostician, told the board that many assessment and support staff are not leaving because of workplace issues but because pay is insufficient. She said diagnostic staff did not receive the 4% raise that teachers got previously and compared Keller’s step‑11 daily rate to neighboring districts.
"Keller ISD step 11 pay rate currently is $337.98 a day or $68,553," Thomason said, and she cited higher step rates elsewhere. Thomason told trustees that diagnostic work includes compliance with state and federal timelines, preparing IEPs and audits, and that understaffing has created an unprecedented workload. She urged the board to consider pay adjustments so support staff will remain in the district.
Trustees heard related testimony from Scott Bruce about retention strategies and enrollment pressures; Bruce recommended mentorship and career pathways in addition to compensation changes. The superintendent said TASB is assisting with pay‑scale recalculations and staff communications will follow after those calculations are complete.
