Back in June, Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 3 into law. The sweeping school finance reform package included $4.5-billion that is currently being pumped into public school classrooms, as well as funding for pay raises for teachers and other staff members across the state.
“Future generations of children in Texas will be better off because of education reforms passed this session,” Abbott said.
Since the signing of HB3 into law, schools all over Central Texas have been putting that new money to use, and on Tuesday night, the Del Valle Independent School District bacame the latest to approve some sizeable pay increases.
At its August 13th meeting, the Del Valle ISD Board of Trustees gave the green light for teachers, librarians, counselors, and registered nurses with up to five years of experience to receive a 7-percent salary increase from last year. Those with six or more years of experience have been given a 9-percent salary increase. The board also approved a new starting teacher salary of $49,000, which is an increase from last year’s starting salary of $46,000.
“We are thrilled that the Board of Trustees issued a significant salary increase to our teachers, librarians, counselors and registered nurses,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Annette Tielle Villerot, “By providing the largest salary increase in the region, we remain competitive with area school districts to recruit and retain the best individuals to support our students and community. We value the efforts of the Del Valle ISD team to cultivate a culture of high expectations.”
Del Valle ISD’s first day of school is August 26th.
Numerous other districts in the area have also been able to give their teachers and staff some much-welcomed raises. In July, the Hutto Independent School District voted to spend an additional $2.8-million on salary increases, beginning with 5-percent for non-teaching staff and teachers with fewer than five years of experience. Those with six or more years of experience were given a 7-percent bump, and teachers with more than 26 years under their belts got a 9-percent increase.
Manor Independent School District teachers and staff were given between 4-percent and 7-percent raises, depending on experience.
Other districts that have approved a pay raise this year include:
- Georgetown ISD
- Pflugerville ISD
- Leander ISD
- Round Rock ISD
- Lake Travis ISD
- Eanes ISD
- Austin ISD
