Fort Worth ISD board of trustees approves teacher pay raises

by PegNews wire

FORT WORTH — The Fort Worth ISD Board of Trustees adopted a budget for 2009-10 that includes a state mandated 3% pay raise (on average) for teachers as well as a 1.5% to 2 % raise for other employees.

Teachers -– as well as librarians, counselors, nurses and speech pathologists-- will receive an extra $968 plus a step increase. The salary increase for district employees who are director level III and above was approved at 1.5%.

The total budget for the 2009-10 year is $561 million.

Although the district has declared financial exigency, there was concern that the compensation gains that have been made in the past four years could be lost in the competitive marketplace. During a presentation and discussion, a summary showed contiguous school districts have given 2-3% raises to all staff, not just teachers.

Board members stated that the smaller increase for the directors is not a reflection of the quality of their work but rather a consideration of the fact that they are already making more money.

“This is really a bare bones budget,” said Interim Chief Financial Officer Cheryl Kennon. “However, we were able to add 18 additional elementary school teachers to cover enrollment growth and provide a small percentage salary increase for all employees.”

Source: Fort Worth ISD