Board approves budget with raises

SISD Instructional Coach Patricia Owens was named an Anchor Award winner. Courtesy photo

By Tony Farkas
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SHEPHERD — The Shepherd ISD Board of Managers began the annual budget season by approving a compensation plan at its regular meeting Thursday.

While the board passed a 3 percent raise a couple of months ago, Superintendent Jason Hewitt said the board also approved a plan to supplement acquisition and retention of staff.

According to Assistant Superintendent DeAnna Clavell, employees who return and are employed as of Aug. 31 will receive a September payment; employees who are employed on or before Dec. 31 will receive the January payment and employees who are employed on or before May 31, 2023, will receive the June payment.

Full-time certified teachers and other employees on the teacher or administrative pay scales will receive $4,000. Full-time employees on the paraprofessional and auxiliary pay scales will receive $2,000. Of these total amounts, 25 percent will be paid in a lump sum in September, 25 percent in January 2023, and 50 percent in June 2023.

Half-time teachers will receive $1,500 with 50 percent paid in September, 25 percent in January 2023, and 25 percent in June 2023. Other part-time employees will receive $1,000 with 50 percent September, 25 percent in January 2023 and 25 percent in June 2023. 

Substitute workers who work 50 percent or more of the full student instructional days offered in the fall semester shall receive $500 paid in January. If they work 50 percent or more of the spring semester student days offered, they will receive an additional $500 in June. Substitute workers who do not work full days may add their half days together to equate 50 percent full days.

In addition, the compensation plan includes an increase for bilingual certified teachers who are now eligible to receive an additional $12,500 each year, an increase stipend for certified math and science teachers at the 9-12 grade level to receive $8,000. This package includes the pay raise approved earlier in the year for all staff. 

Hewitt also said the board discussed the future and sustainability of the raises, since grant funds were used for them.

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In all, the annual budget for Shepherd ISD is $21 million, and the district has $10 million in its fund balance. Hewitt said that they try to pass a balanced budget each year.

In other business, the board:

approved a hold harmless agreement with the state over average daily attendance;

•accepted bid for rebuilding the primary school parking lot from CCC Blacktopping for $661,500 plus $68,700 for engineering fees;

•approved an agreement with Teachworthy in connection with the district’s Nspire program;

•approved an agreement with Conroe Regional Day School for the Deaf for services;

•approved an agreement with Conroe ISD for drug detection;

•approved an agreement with Harris County Department of Education for services; and

•approved repairs to doors and windows using approximately $350,000 in ESSER funds.