Dallas ISD gives teachers a slight raise, cuts some staff positions
DALLAS - Dallas ISD approved its budget for the next school year. That budget includes a slight pay raise for teachers, but there will also be some cuts.
"Budget shortfall" is a phrase a lot of school districts around the state have uttered. The Dallas Independent School District is no different.
During Thursday night’s school board meeting, district trustees took steps to deal with what it said is insufficient funding from the state.
Trustees approved a new $1.9 billion budget.
It gives teachers a modest raise. The new average annual teacher salary will be $70,000.
The spending plan also includes funding for the 70 positions added in the fall to the district’s police force. The positions were mandated by a new Texas school security law which went into effect last year.
But non-teaching positions are taking a hit.
Under the budget, more than 600 jobs at the campus level are being cut.
55 assistant principal jobs and 170 full-time jobs in district administration are being cut.
Dallas ISD says the cuts do not mean 600 people will lose their jobs.
The district said some of the jobs will be absorbed through retirements and normal attrition. There will also be an effort to re-assign impacted individuals to other positions around Dallas ISD that fit their skills.
Most of the eliminated positions were funded by federal pandemic relief dollars, according to DISD officials.
In the state capitol, Gov. Greg Abbott’s battle with lawmakers over school vouchers has held up increased funding for public schools.
One Dallas ISD trustee said that while the situation is difficult, Dallas is fortunate that it has not had to close any schools like many other districts throughout Texas.
Plano ISD is considering closing these 4 schools
Plano ISD is considering closing two elementary schools and two middle schools by the 2025 school year. District leaders say it's needed to deal with changing enrollment.
"A ton of them are closing schools and having to close them on a short timeline. And we have the luxury of not doing that because of thoughtful planning like this," said school board member Ben Mackey. "But I just want to share my take on this because this is never easy, but it is necessary. And what we need to do is make the decisions that are gonna be the most beneficial for kids."