Community

Actions

Some Coastal Bend teachers are getting a pay raise starting August 2019

Posted at 5:37 PM, May 03, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-03 18:37:35-04

 

“To impact our kids in the classroom we need to have quality teachers and staff and we needed to bring our pay scales to be more competitive,” said Alice ISD Superintendent Dr. Carl Scarbrough.

Last night the Alice Independent School District Board approved salary increases for teachers and other employees. First year teachers who were making $40,000/a year will now be making $44,000/year.

And the new ceiling cap for teacher salaries is going from $54,500 to $59,000/year. Included in the mix are also school bus drivers who will be earning $14/hour – up from $11.92/hour.

And food service employees will also see a $1 an hour raise.

“We definitely want to make sure that we keep the good ones and we attract good ones,” said Scarbrough

He says the change comes as the district moves to offer a more competitive pay rate and to help keep new teachers from leaving.

“We want to keep these beginning teachers but what’s often happening is that they’ll work for us for a little bit and then they’re going and moving back home or going to other districts that may pay $3,000-4,000 more than we do,” said Scarbrough.

Nearly one third of Alice ISD teachers are considered beginning or new teachers, so Scarbrough says with more competitive recruitment and successful retention, the district is on track for growth.

He also added that the money funding the new salaries is all coming from the existing budget. The increase is set to take effect August of 2019.

On May 4, 2019 people will get a chance to vote on a bond package for Alice ISD. If approved, the school district will get money to pay for maintenance which could mean more salary increases in the future.