LOCKHART, Texas — Summer is the time of year when school districts decide their budgets. This year, it's looking different for some Central Texas districts.
While Austin ISD is looking for places to cut its multimillion-dollar deficit, Lockhart ISD approved a pay increase of up to 4.6% for teachers and librarians on Monday night. The district also approved a 3% increase for other employees during the 2024-25 school year.
All other school district employees will receive a 3% pay increase at the midpoint of their new pay scales for the school year. Additionally, substitute teachers will receive a pay increase of up to 26% and up to 50% for substitute nurses district-wide.
"They are deserving of so much more, but we are proud of the race that we were able to give this year in spite of, the inaction of the state legislature," Lockhart ISD Superintendent Mark Estrada said.
Also included in the budget are funds allocated for free school supplies for all Lockhart ISD students, the expansion of the Communities In Schools program to all campuses, $300,000 dedicated to fine arts programs, as well as $200,000 in additional investments to support special education, $265,000 for campus social workers, and a $130,000 investment to start an Early College High School program.
The budget includes a $35,000 increase to Lockhart High School coaching stipends, which is the first increase since the 2017-18 school year. Investments were also included in the balanced budget to support academic intervention, school safety, curriculum, and instructional support for Lockhart ISD students.
Like other districts, Lockhart lost a chunk of funding from the state last school year due to its growth and increased property values. Estrada said leaders focused on not overextending themselves as residents helped by signing off on a voter-approved tax ratification election (VATRE) in November.
"Increase in the tax rate by three pennies," Estrada said. "And that tax stays in the district stays ... and gives us the ability to give our staff a raise each year."
Estrada said the VATRE approval helped Lockhart recoup $3 million lost to the state – enough to give employees raises. It's something Austin ISD leaders discussed in their last board meeting.
"Without the VATRE, we're just going to give one-time bumps," a board member said. "When you all know I hate one-time bumps because I think they're a scam."
But even with that, Austin ISD leaders say the district won't be out of the red.
Maintaining quality teachers during an ongoing staffing shortage is a top priority for many Texas school districts, and Lockhart has a big goal to make that happen.
"We have a plan so that 30% of our teachers are making over $100,000 by 2028," Estrada said. "That is a big push. We're laser-focused on that this year. We actually had our first group of teachers get over that $100,000 threshold."
As some districts search for funding, they may also be asking voters to approve tax increases to help.