Pearland, Alvin school districts raise salaries for employees

Pay for teachers increased to help attract new educators, reward classroom veterans, officials say

For first-year teachers, Pearland Independent School District might be one of the best bets to work among districts in the area based on cold hard cash.

A salary of $50,000 for beginning teachers with a bachelor’s degree in the 2014-15 school year was approved in May by the board of trustees as part of an overall pay hike for all district employees, the highest district pay raise in seven years.

“Having a competitive starting teacher salary helps us attract the best teachers to Pearland ISD, while raising current salaries rewards our staff who go above and beyond every day,” Superintendent John Kelly said.

All eligible employees will receive an increase of 4 percent of their pay grade midpoint, while the rate for hourly workers was set at a $10 minimum.

“We have some of the most dedicated teachers and staff in Pearland ISD. These raises are an investment in our students by showing our continued support for the peoplewho impact them,” board President Rusty DeBorde said.

The overall cost to the district is $5 million, including $4 million for the across-the-board pay raise and $1 million for an equity adjustment for current teachers.

Spokeswoman Kim Hoc- ott said the district used a market analysis from the Texas Association of School Boards to figure out competitive teacher and staff salaries for the area. She said the pay raise also will offset what is rumored to be a double-digit hike in health insurance costs.

“We needed that kind of salary to draw the best teachers to Pearland (ISD),” Hocott said of the more than 20,000-student district. “Our goal is to build aworld-class district, and to do that you have to have world-class teachers and employees.”

In nearby Alvin ISD, which also draws from the city of Pearland, the salary range for first-year teachers was increased to $48,450 for those with a bachelor’s degree and $49,450 for those with a master’s degree as a part of a 3 percent pay increase for all employees for a total cost of $3.32 million.

Spokesman Daniel Combs said the district’s staff investment program and self-funded health insurance system are added attractions for teachers, which some other districts don’t offer.

Friendswood school district is giving all district staff a 2 percent costof-living increase at a cost of $653,000 and may add a half percent, one-time bump in pay later in the year for a further $137,000.

In Texas City ISD, first--

year teachers will receive from $48,500 to $49,626 after the board approved a 2.5 percent pay raise for all employees. The teacher salary schedule also was adjusted to reward more experienced teachers. The cost to the district is almost $2.4 million.

Clear Creek ISD’s teachers will see a salary increase averaging 4.35 per- cent. Teachers with up to 39 years of experience will receive salary adjustments from 2.5 percent to almost 8 percent, including a $2,500 boost for five-year milestones. New teachers will start at $47,000 to $48,500.

The idea behind the new pay structure according to Deputy Superintendent Paul McLarty was to show appreciation to tenured teachers.

Still in budget talks, La Marque ISD Superintendent Terri Watkins is hoping there will be funds available for a pay increase for staff, but warned they were working under a tight budget.

Still, she said LaMarque offers much in the way of professional development.