This story has been updated.
The Harlandale, South San Antonio and Southwest independent school districts have rolled out teacher and staff raises in a bid to compete for educators in San Antonio amid an ongoing shortage.
The minimum starting salary for a teacher is up $4,000 to $58,000 a year in the Harlandale Independent School District, which has just over 12,000 students. The district is facing a $12 million deficit and recently decided to shutter schools and reorganize as a cost-saving measure.
“We want to make sure our Harlandale family knows that despite the financial challenges we have faced as a district, it was still important for us as the board to approve a compensation plan that shows we value their commitment to our students’ education,” Ricardo Moreno, Harlandale board president, said in a statement following the vote to approve the raises Monday night.
In a press release, the district said the pay increases also ensure that the district remains on par with the surrounding school districts.
The plan also provides a 3% general pay increase for teachers, paraprofessionals and classified employees such as bus drivers, and 2% raises for other professionals, which include principals, directors and administrative staff.
With declining enrollment and inflation, many districts were hoping for increased funds from the Texas Legislature, which passed no increased funding for teachers in the last regular legislative session, one of the only groups of government employees that didn’t receive a raise.
But board members haven’t given up hope completely. Along with the compensation package, Harlandale ISD trustees passed a resolution that would grant the ability of the district to further increase salaries and wages in the event the state approves additional funding during upcoming special sessions. One such session focused on education is expected later this year.
Gerardo Soto, Harlandale’s superintendent, thanked the board in a statement following the vote, adding that the move allows the district to remain competitive.
“Together, we will continue to provide an environment where both our students and staff can thrive,” he said.
Southwest ISD
In the Southwest Independent School District, all teachers, librarians, nurses, counselors, social workers and administrators are slated to receive a 5% raise under a new compensation package.
Clerical and instructional support staff and auxiliary employees will receive an even higher raise of 6% under the plan that was approved Tuesday.
Larger pay increases are being given to teachers with more experience, according to the district.
For example, a teacher with 20 years of experience will earn $70,372, and a teacher with 25 years of experience will earn $73,372 under the plan.
SWISD Board President Sylvester Vasquez Jr. said in a statement following the vote that the plan “is just one facet of showing appreciation to our dedicated and loyal employees.”
Other incentives include two retention stipends totaling $2,500, and incentives of $500 for campuses that increase average daily attendance by 2% over the previous year.
The metric is significant for the district, since the state funds schools based on how many students show up each day.
Ida Sudolcan, vice president of the SWISD Board, said the incentive allows the district to operate as a team and “reinforce our commitment to both employee and student attendance.”
Jeanette Ball, superintendent of the district, said the approximately $5.3 million raise is the largest in the district’s history and one of the largest in Bexar County.
According to a statement, the release was announced earlier than in years past “to ensure that the staff knew they were highly valued and appreciated.”
Most years, compensation plans are voted on in July.
Employees will receive the approved pay increase determined by their contract start date for the upcoming 2023-24 school year, with some employees even receiving the increase as early as July 2023, according to the district.
Starting the competition for teachers this summer was the San Antonio Independent School District, which approved raises ranging from 3 to 9% in Mid-April.
South San Antonio ISD
The South San Antonio Independent School District, which also voted to close schools this year, approved wide-ranging raises, including a 4% pay increase for all positions in the district on Wednesday.
Starting pay for a first-year teacher will increase to $58,380 under the plan and custodians/bus aides will receive a 7% increase.
Food service workers and managers will receive the largest raises, ranging from 10% to 14%.
In addition, the Board of Trustees approved several retention and recruitment stipends, including one totaling $1,000 for all employees who are employed before Sept. 1, 2023.
The district also implemented a stipend bonus of $500 for all teachers who increase attendance to 95% or $250 for teachers who increase attendance to 93%.
“Through collaboration with the board and the superintendent, we were able to give our employees a much-needed raise,” Homer Flores, board president, said.
Overall, the district’s total compensation package will cost an estimated $3.2 million for the 2023-2024 school year.
“In order to remain competitive and reward our faculty and staff for the work they do each and every day, we must ensure that our employees are paid well, as it benefits both them and the students of our district,” said Superintendent Henry Yzaguirre.“
