EDUCATION BRIEFS
News from Pflugerville & Hutto ISDs
DISTRICT HIGHLIGHTS PFLUGERVILLE ISD Although construction on Hidden Lake Elementary School in eastern Pflugerville is nearly halfway complete, according to district staff, officials sent out a release April 22 stating the campus will not open for the 2022-23 school year due to budget constraints. The release states the budget difficulties stem from a low attendance rate in the 2021-22 school year, which caused a decrease in state funding. The failure of the voter approved tax ratification election in November compounded the problem, according to the district. Officials do not yet have a time frame for when the campus will open. HUTTO Board of trustees members discussed a slew of planned improvements to Hutto High School at an April 14 board meeting. The project, funded by a 2019 bond, includes upgrades and expansions to several areas of the school, including fine arts, career and technical education, and parking. The board will consider approving the project’s next phase, design development, at an upcoming meeting. Pflugerville ISD board of trustees Will meet May 19 at 7 p.m. 1401 W. Pecan St., Pflugerville 512-594-0000 www.pfisd.net Hutto ISD board of trustees Will meet May 12 & 26 at 6 p.m. 200 College St., Hutto 512-759-3771 www.hipponation.org MEETINGSWE COVER NUMBER TOKNOW class of 2022 deemed college, career and military ready, according to the district. The figure shows a decreasing trend from 63% for the class of 2021 and 81% for the class of 2020. 46% Percentage of Hutto ISD students in the
Hutto ISDapproves 4%raises for all staff in coming year
BY CARSON GANONG
A 4% general pay increase is on the upper end of the options district staff presented to the board March 31. Staff laid out options ranging from 2%-4% and recommended the board opt for a 3% increase. The board ultimately voted 5-1 in favor of the 4% increase. Trustee Terrence Owens said competitive pay is one tool the district will need to utilize to attract and retain staff as other potential employers move into the area. “With Samsung and possibly Applied Materials coming in and just people not wanting to work in this
profession, I think we’re going to have to do some outside-of-the-box things, maybe besides the pay raises,” Owens said. Superintendent Celina Estrada Thomas said there is still time to consider additional adjustments before the budget is finalized. Adjustments could include further changes to base staff compensation or additional mea- sures, such as stipends, Thomas said. “Every month, we’re going to get more information [and] really have a much better picture of what our budget is going to look like,” Thomas said.
HUTTO ISD Teachers and staff in Hutto ISD can expect to see a 4% increase in pay next fiscal year. The HISD board of trustees approved a staff compensation plan for fiscal year 2022-23 at its March 31 meeting. As approved, the plan includes a 4% general pay increase for all job groups. On top of the general pay increase, the plan includes several smaller pay adjustments to individual job groups. In total, the additional pay is estimated to cost HISD $3.27 million, or 5.5% of its salary expenditures, according to a district presentation.
HUTTO ISD
PFLUGERVILLE ISD
TWODISTRICTS, TWO RAISES Both Pflugerville and Hutto ISDs recently approved raises for staff for the 2022-23 school year. The following data illustrates characteristics of the pay increases in each district.
Raise for all staff New minimum starting rate Projected impact on budget Percentage of current costs
4%
3%
$11/hour (No change)
$15/hour
$7.5 million
$3.27 million
5.5%
4.2%
SOURCES: HUTTO ISD, PFLUGERVILLE ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Pflugerville ISDapproves 3%pay raise for district staff
BY BRIAN RASH
to officials regarding staff pay bumps of 2%-3% pay for all job groups. In addition to the 3% pay raise for most staff, the board also voted to increase the starting pay rate for any remaining non- exempt district positions. Specifically, employees making less than $15 per hour after the 3% increase will be brought to a rate of at least $15 per hour.
District information states the 3% pay increase will add $7.51 million to next year’s PfISD budget. Prior to the board’s vote, officials expressed con- cerns that 3% is not enough to cover cost-of-living expenses for district staff. Additionally, Superinten- dent Doug Killian warned officials that the pay raise will not allow for a bal- anced budget in 2022-23,
but he said guaranteeing all staff make at least $15 per hour is the right thing to do. “We’re stretching the budget no matter what we do,” Killian said. “The last thing I want to do is not pass a high enough percentage pay increase and then come to you the following school year with more money in fund balance.”
PFLUGERVILLE ISD Officials approved a compensation measure to benefit district staff during a recent Pflugerville ISD board meeting. At a March 31 meeting, the school board approved a 3% pay bump for all staff for the 2022-23 school year. Chief Human Resources Officer Willie Watson Jr. presented several models
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PFLUGERVILLE - HUTTO EDITION • MAY 2022
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