Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Employee Compensation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
BISD trustees approve stipend revisions, pledge deeper equity review
Summary
Brownsville ISD’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved revisions to the district’s 2024–25 supplemental (stipend) pay schedule, while trustees and speakers urged further study to close remaining gaps for programs such as adapted/Unified Sports, middle‑school dance and dual‑enrollment instructors.
Brownsville Independent School District trustees voted unanimously Sept. 9 to revise pages 34–36, 38, 39 and 41 of the 2024–25 Employee Compensation Plan to adjust supplemental (stipend) pay for coaches, sponsors and program leads. The motion, moved by Trustee Carlos Elizondo and seconded by Trustee Frank Ortiz, passed 7–0.
The meeting opened with public comment focused on perceived stipend inequities. Parent Sergio Zarate urged the board to ensure adapted/Unified Sports coaches are paid, saying the program was created "for equality" and should be led by certified adapted‑PE instructors rather than unpaid volunteers. "It had to be a qualified coach, an adapted PE coach that had their certifications down," Zarate said.
Union representatives backed the change. "This increase has been a yearlong commitment in negotiations," Adina Alegria, executive director of the Texas Valley Educators Association, told trustees, urging approval to align pay "comparable to other districts in Region 1." BEST AFT chapter leader Esmeralda Garcia‑Barajas asked the board to revisit middle‑school dance instructor stipends, noting the current $2,500 level is lower than comparable assistant band and choir stipends.
Superintendent Dr. Jesus Chavez described the proposal as a first step toward market alignment and equity, saying the plan brings stipend levels to roughly 90% of market. He reminded trustees the district recently made deep budget reductions and used $23.6 million from fund balance; he said BISD had expected $34 million in state aid that was not released, constraining options for larger immediate increases.
Trustees spent time clarifying eligibility rules for specific stipends. Board Member Carlos Elizondo raised concerns about dual‑enrollment instructors who lose stipends when section enrollment falls below a 15‑student threshold; Dr. Norma Ibarra‑Cantu and HR staff explained that the district and partners set some minimums tied to course approvals and master scheduling. Trustees also asked about SLO Lead Teacher designations and were told many leads are awaiting TIA designation but will receive training if the stipend changes are approved.
Trustees and speakers repeatedly urged administration to complete a broader study of supplemental pay in the next budget cycle and to identify omitted positions (forensics, DI, chess, HOSA and certain middle‑school honors roles). Board Member Elizondo called the action "a good first step" but asked that staff return with a thorough review and options to close remaining gaps.
The board approved the revisions and directed staff to include stipend equity work in the next budget planning cycle.
