Government
Education
BY WESLEY GARDNER
BY SHAWN ARRAJJ & CASSANDRA JENKINS
Proposed pay bumps
Houston ISD mulls teacher pay bumps
Houston to pay $650M to firefighters The city of Houston will pay $650 million in back pay owed to firefighters for the eight years they worked without a contract. The setup According to a March 14 news release, the settlement terms include all current firefighters, retired firefighters and families of firefighters who have died since 2017. The agreement also: • Makes permanent the temporary 18% pay increases given to firefighters in 2021 • Mandates additional raises of 10% starting July 1 • Ensures a five-year contract moving forward The $650 million will be paid through judgment bonds.
Primary results set stage for November election Following primary elections March 5, races have been set for several elected seats covering the Heights, River Oaks and Montrose areas. The big picture In primary elections, candidates compete within the Democratic and Republican parties to deter- mine who will represent each party on Election Day. In races where no candidate received more than 50% of the votes, the top two candidates will compete in a May 28 runoff election. Some local races for U.S. Congress and Texas Senate are headed to runoffs, including Senate District 15, where democrats Molly Cook and Jarvis Johnson will compete. In Harris County, Democrat Sean Teare will face Republican Dan Simons for district attorney in November, while incumbent Democrat Ed Gonzalez will face Republican Mike Knox for Sheriff.
Results breakdown
Minimum wage (hourly)
Base salary, non- NES teachers
Winner
Headed to runoff
$64,000
$61,500
Houston ISD officials revealed plans March 5 to increase the salaries and wages for several employees next school year as part of the district’s new compensation plan. The breakdown Officials said teacher salaries at New Education System schools, which are part of Superinten- dent Mike Miles’ district reform initiative, will largely remain the same. Teachers at NES schools make roughly $10,000-$20,000 more per year than their counterparts at non-NES schools. The average NES high school teacher salary with up to two years of experience is $82,780. The plan shows salaries for teachers with 0-2 years of experience staying largely the same at middle and high schools within the NES. Teachers with 0-2 years of experience at NES elementary schools will see slight increases in pay, depending on the position.
According to the plan, the district plans to increase minimum base salaries for teachers at non-NES schools from $61,500 to $64,000 and bump the minimum hourly wage for all employ- ees up to $15. Depending on the grade level taught, new teachers at non-NES schools will make between $64,000-$77,690. Keep in mind Next year, there will be 130 NES schools. Changes implemented at NES campuses include centralized schedules, district-approved class- room instruction and lessons, and additional staff who handle a variety of tasks outside the classroom. What’s next The board of managers will consider the new compensation plan when managers consider approving the budget in June.
82.4% Lizzie Fletcher 17.6% Pervez Agwan U.S. House of Representatives, District 7, Democrat 17.2% Tina Blum Cohen: 15.8% Carolyn B. Bryant 40.5% Kenneth Omoruyi U.S. House of Representatives, District 7, Republican
$15
$14
2023-24
2024-25
2023-24
2024-25
New Education System teacher salaries, 0-2 years of experience
2023-24
2024-25
26.5% Caroline Kane
$63,000- $85,000
$64,000- $86,000
Elementary
Texas Senate, District 15, Democrat
10.7% Michelle Anderson Bonton 10.5% Alberto “Beto” Cardenas 6.2% Karthik Soora 15.8% Todd Litton 20.6% Molly Cook
$65,000- $86,000
$65,000- $86,000
Intermediate
$70,000- $90,000
$70,000- $90,000
High school
36.2% Jarvis D. Johnson
SOURCE: HOUSTON ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE/COMMUNITY IMPACT NOTE: FIND MORE LOCAL RESULTS AT COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
HOUSTON SUPERSTORE 2410 Smith Street (713) 526-8787
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