Education
BY ELLE BENT
Dripping Springs ISD ups pay for support sta Some Dripping Springs ISD employees will see a change in their compensation e ective Nov. 14. The gist Trustees approved three changes to the com- pensation plan during a board meeting Nov. 13 as well as a one-time retention incentive. The changes made to the plan are: • Increase of $3 to the hourly pay of special education instructional aides • Increase of $3 to the hourly pay of bus monitors, raising minimum hourly pay from $16 to $19 • A stipend of one-eighth of the base salary for teachers who have taken on additional classes for coverage amid vacancies In an e ort to retain sta , the board approved a one-time lump sum payment of $1,000 to all current, full-time regular employees and $500
Austin ISD resumes superintendent search The superintendent position will be posted on the district's website from Nov. 17 until 5 p.m. Dec. 7. The board of trustees will review the applications Dec. 7 during a board meeting. The board of trustees chose not to take the route of a national search after receiving public input, and instead decided to post the position immediately. Interim Superinten- dent Matias Segura is eligible to apply. The decision to extend Segura's contract in March for another year paused the $42,000 process of nding a permanent replacement that began in May 2022. Former Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde left the district in June 2022 for a position at Dallas ISD.
“We’ve always said that we want a life-changer in every position. I know that we have them
in the positions that we have, and I hope we can keep them.” MARY JANE HETRICK, TRUSTEE
for part-time regular employees and long-term substitutes. The background In June, the board approved the 2023-24 budget with 61% for payroll, totaling a $122.8 million general fund budget for the scal year. This budget included a 3% salary increase for all sta , a 33% increase in hourly wage for bus drivers and a $1 increase for bus monitors. Bus monitors, who assist and supervise students while on the bus, are facing a 40% vacancy rate.
Austin ISD launches new enrollment system A new enrollment system for families register- ing for the new school year or looking to attend Austin ISD is now available ahead of the 2024-25 school year. The gist
Dates to remember
Nov. 8: Priority registration application opens Feb. 6: Priority registration application closes March 5: Decisions from Priority registration released to families March 26: Annual Forms must be completed for students that received a seat con rmation during Priority registration. April 2: General registration opens
registration, transfer requests and prekindergar- ten applications. In addition, families will be able to rank up to seven programs or campuses if considering more than one option for enrollment. In March, the system will assign students to the highest ranked school based on capacity and eligibility. For more information, visit www.austinisd.org/ enroll.
In an email sent to families Nov. 2, the new sys- tem, referred to as “Enroll Austin,” will combine all applications into one system, including online
AUSTIN ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
We currently serve children 8 weeks - 12 years
Fully accredited by the American Montessori Society
ADOLESCENT PROGRAM (Ages 12-15)
COMING FALL 2023
MARIPOSA MONTESSORI SCHOOL, 3338 PAISANO TRAIL, AUSTIN, TX (512) 428-4280
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SOUTHWEST AUSTIN DRIPPING SPRINGS EDITION
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