The Ector County ISD Board of Trustees approved pay raises for its 4,200 employees during their meeting Tuesday.
Superintendent Scott Muri said a proposed compensation plan was discussed last week.
The total budget impact is $9.367 million, Chief Financial Officer Deborah Ottmers said.
It included a 3 percent of midpoint raise for all campus-based professionals.
Raising starting teacher pay to $58,750. It is currently $57,000, which is an $1,820 raise.
Muri adjusted a 2 percent of midpoint pay increase for all central office professionals to 3 percent.
A 4 percent of midpoint increase for all hourly employees, school-based or central office was also approved, along with an increase in minimum wage to $15 an hour. This is up from $10 an hour two years ago.
“As we’ve looked across the state, there are districts not able to do anything. There are districts that are making some significant moves. We’ve even seen layoffs; a variety of situations just in Texas right now,” Muri said.
“At this point, we will have the highest teacher salary in our region,” which Muri said will help retain and attract people.
He added that with the hourly wage increase it makes ECISD competitive in the community.
“This is a very healthy package that will make a statement not only in our community, but the state,” Muri said.
Before the vote on the plan, Javier Ruiz, president of the Ector County TSTA/NEA, said he appreciated that all employees will be rewarded.
Ruiz said this year has been extremely tough with inflation rising to historic levels. He asked that the board use Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds to offer a retention stipend for teachers as they are leaving the profession like never before.
He said the raises were a step in the right direction.
The board also approved a redistricting plan and approved making it effective immediately so they can fill the District 7 spot vacated by Nelson Minyard.
Trustees voted 6-0 to exercise the option in Texas Education Code Section 11.053 to permit Trustees in office to serve for the remainder of their terms. ECISD Trustees chose to keep the current staggered term structure and not require all Trustees to run again in the next election (May 2023).
At the workshop in June, Muri said the board will discuss resumes for the board position.
Interviews and a vote will be held at the regular June meeting. Candidates will complete questionnaires and send them to board members.
Trustees also hired Juan Dominguez as principal of Bonham Middle School and Regina Lee as principal of Burnet Elementary. She had been principal of Gale Pond Alamo STEAM Academy.
The board also:
>> Voted 6-0 to approve an amendment to the academic calendar giving high school students additional time to recover/accrue high school credits through July 20. Summer Graduation will now be held on July 28, 2022.
>> Voted 6-0 to approve revisions to local board policies for the District of Innovation (DOI) renewal plan. The board recently approved the ECISD District of Innovation Plan and the related exemptions from state statutes. This action reflects the revisions and updates to local policies that are most pressing due to their impact on staffing and the start of school in 2022-2023.
Texas Association of School Boards Policy Service assisted the district in proposing revisions and additions to ECISD board policy, the board recap said.
>> Voted 6-0 to approve an order adopting the results of the Bond 2022 election. The official results of the election on May 7 were: Proposition A – 4,768 Against and 3,003 For; Proposition B – 5,043 Against and 2,746 For.
>> Reviewed the budget items they prioritized earlier in the semester, and how they will be addressed in the budget being built for next year including compensation; staff incentives and professional development (creating partnerships to help develop counselors, diagnosticians, bilingual teachers and speech pathologists); recruitment (adding more recruiting fairs and monetary incentives); and more money directed toward maintenance (capital projects at specified schools).
Also, technology improvements (bus ID cards and parent app, Wi-Fi on activity buses and device refresh for students and staff); and equity amongst schools.
Under Learning Journey (Gifted/Talented and International Baccalaureate reorganization and expansion; and robotics at middle schools and elementary schools). The recap said budget work is done all year long, but it speeds up now as the district is closing the current year and preparing for the new year that begins on July 1. It is anticipated that the tax rate will remain unchanged for the coming year. the recap said.
Under special presentations, the top two students from each high school were introduced.
G.H.W.B. New Tech Odessa: 1. Isabella Fanucci-Dishon; 2. Emily Banda.
OCTECHS: 1. Ashley Manquero; 2. Jenifer Lopez Martinez; Odessa Collegiate Academy: 1. Lizeth Rios
2. Jasmine Porras; Odessa High School: 1. Rigoberto Mendoza Jr., 2. 2. James Fogle; Permian High School: 1. Swetha Kesavan; 2. Jonathan Martinez.
>> In his opening comments, Muri congratulated trustee Donna Smith on her retirement from Odessa College. He presented her with flowers on behalf of the superintendent’s office and the school board.
