Austin schools:

‘We’ve gone too long with too little,’ teachers union president says.

About 100 district employees rally for 5 percent raises outside the school board meeting.

Just before the Austin school district unveiled a preliminary $1.12 billion budget Monday night, about 100 district employees rallied outside the boardroom to ask for a pay raise.

The budget plan — which is up nearly $66 million, or 5.9 percent — includes 1.5 percent across-the-board salary increases for all full- and parttime employees. It also includes an additional 1.5 percent raise for teachers, counselors and librarians with five or more years of experience, giving them an overall 3 percent boost.

However, Education Austin, the district’s largest employee union, is asking for a 5 percent bump for all employees.

“We’ve gone too long with too little,” said Ken Zarifis, president of Education Austin. “We want to make sure ... everybody in this city is working together to make sure the people who educate, transport and feed their kids every day at school are respected and given the raises they deserve.”

Competing with other area districts that pay teachers more, Austin has grappled with boosting wages. The district’s average salary was $48,462 in 2013, according to the most recent Texas Education Agency data available.

When the state cut public school funding in 2011, district employees went with-

out raises for two years. Since then, the district has provided one-time pay bumps, largely by dipping into the fund balance or district savings. The proposed budget will make those temporary increases permanent.

Board members have tried to make gains in other ways, including giving teachers three-year contracts and giving due process to classified employees, including bus drivers, janitors and cafeteria workers. Last year they approved paying federal prevailing wages in several voter-approved district bond projects.

During the rally, Austin school board President Gina Hinojosa addressed employees gathered outside prior to the board meeting. She said the district is committed to improving compensation if the Legislature pumps more money into public education this session.

“We’re working on it,” she said. “We may not get to 5 percent this year, but I believe we’ll get there.”

Nearly 20 employees addressed the board during public comments, including teachers who said they must work second jobs or who cannot afford to buy a home.

Austin High School teacher James Maxfield, who has been in the district for 26 years, told trustees that rent, food and home prices have all gone up while district salaries have remained stagnant. He said even when the district provides “a minuscule raise,” it is offset by increased health insurance costs, increased deductions by the Texas Retirement System, or salary schedules based on years of service that he said don’t reward experience.

“I’m 64 years old, so I’m too old to go anywhere else — but I know what I’d do if I was a young teacher,” Maxfield said. “I would move to one of the outlying districts where salaries are higher and the cost of living is lower. If you want to keep talented teachers in the district, you must give them a meaningful, substantial raise that is enough to survive on in this very, very expensive city. Otherwise they will leave.”

The board is scheduled to examine the budget again in June and vote on it Aug. 25.