San Antonio’s largest school district, Northside Independent School District (NISD), is likely to place pay raises in the hands of voters through a voter approval-tax rate election (VATRE) in November. The VATRE would increase tax rates on the maintenance and operation side, unlocking extra dollars for day-to-day costs like pay, student programs, and utilities.
Challenges Facing NISD
NISD currently faces a $38 million budget deficit due to lowering enrollment, largely flat state funding, and rising costs. Giving staff raises from their own fund balance would only sink NISD further. The district has made budget cuts a few years in a row and is currently undergoing an optimization plan to boost enrollment, consolidate campuses, or do a mixture of both.
Contingent on a VATRE passage, NISD would implement a 2% general pay increase costing $15 million, move all current employees to 1% above minimum wage using $17 million, adjust teacher pay scales based on years of experience, and make stipends more competitive. NISD administration is also recommending salary-related changes that aren’t tied to the passage of a VATRE, including reorganizing pay structures, reviewing and standardizing stipends, reducing work calendars, and updating job titles and descriptions.
Support from the Teacher and Staff Union
Northside AFT, the district’s teacher and staff union, intends to support the bond and VATRE efforts. The group has been pushing for NISD’s lowest paid members to be paid at least $15 an hour, which a VATRE would help with. Some of NISD’s auxiliary workers are currently getting paid a minimum of $11.73 an hour.
Original reporting: San Antonio Report — read the source article.
