Frisco | August 2023

Celebrating June 9-11

STAYING COMPETITIVE Frisco ISD’s starting pay is similar to some of its surrounding districts. FISD has the largest number of teachers of all these districts listed.

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$59,000

Frisco ISD

Plano ISD

$60,000

Little Elm ISD

$58,285

$59,340

Denton ISD

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SOURCE: FRISCO ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

SHE’S MAKING LASTING FRIENDSHIPS

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one of the more challenging parts of working out a budget, Smith said. That challenge was worsened by a lack of expected funds from the Texas Legisla- ture, she said. Lawmakers had left $17 billion in potential property tax relief and school funding on the table when the FISD board approved its budget, according to district ocials. “How can we, at least, give a cost- of-living increase to our sta without putting ourselves in a position where we are potentially jeopardizing our future sustainability?” Smith said. “The amount of money that we were able to come up with was $1,200.” The district is also employing non- monetary incentives to both draw in new teachers and keep the existing ones in FISD. For example, a new ben- et added to the 2023-24 school year for the rst time was the option to enroll in pet insurance. “Being on a

salaries are competitive,” Smith said. Looking ahead District ocials and sta use ongo- ing conversations and district surveys to look for additional ways to help peo- ple want to stay, Linton said. “The [focus on] retention is like knowing that you have people that have your back and that anybody’s here to help support you,” said Kelly Fitzhugh, a Corbell Elementary School second grade teacher. Fitzhugh, who has been in FISD for nine years, was also a member of a focus group assembled to discuss and pitch new ways the district could improve retention and take some things o of teachers’ plates. “There are people who are truly invested in what they can do to help

The Goddard Schools are operated by independent franchisees under a license agreement with Goddard Franchisor, LLC. Programs an Goddard Systems, LLC is Cognia accredited. License Frisco (West). © Goddard Franchisor, LLC 2023

The Goddard Schools are operated by independent franchisees under a license agree- ment with Goddard Franchisor, LLC. Programs and ages may vary. Goddard Systems, LLC is Cognia accredited. License Frisco (West). © Goddard Franchisor, LLC 2023

keep teachers and help teachers who want to come to Frisco,” Fitzhugh said. “They’re meeting to nd out from people who love it here what’s making them stay.” Since the Leg- islature ended its 2023 session with some poten- tial money for schools still on the table, district

“THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRULY INVESTED IN WHAT THEY CAN DO TO HELP KEEP TEACHERS.” KELLY FITZHUGH, CORBELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER

xed income and only being able to oer so much in terms of salary to the number of employees that we have, [benets are] a great way for us to be able to provide extra com-

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ocials could go back and amend the budget once a decision is made in October, Smith said. “If we can amend our budget and change our compensation plan at that time, we most denitely will,” Smith said.

pensation to classroom teachers, hope- fully incentivizing them to stay in the classroom,” Smith said. Other district benets, such as an employee clinic, a teacher mentorship program and a $250 stipend for addi- tional classroom supplies, are addi- tional ways FISD hopes to draw in and keep its teachers, Smith said. “The benets that we oer are just as important as the salary because our

For more information, visit communityimpact.com .

FRISCO EDITION • AUGUST 2023