McKinney | September 2024

Keeping teachers From the cover

The big picture

Raising pay

The starting pay for McKinney ISD teachers with 0 years of experience has increased by $5,250 over the past five school years.

$56,850

2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25

Despite budget restraints, MISD has provided a compensation increase for its teachers and other employees to help retain and attract employees. On average, teacher raises cost the district $1.3 million per 1% increase, the district’s Chief Financial Ocer Marlene Harbeson said. In the 2023-24 school year, teachers received a raise of $1,950, which is roughly equivalent to a 3% raise. A 3% compensation increase for the 2024-25 school year was approved by the school board in May—which cost the district $5.64 million. The district’s board of trustees approved a $273.36 million general fund budget with a potential revenue shortfall of $21.79 million. Funding for a school district is based on average daily attendance. The basic allotment for schools is $6,160 per student, which has not changed since 2019. When creating the district’s budget for the year, a baseline is created with no pay increase, Harbeson said. District ocials then determine what funds are available in order to recommend a salary increase to the school board. Prioritizing competitive pay is dicult as 80% to 85% of the district’s budget is composed of

$57,800

+9.23%

$58,800

$60,450

$62,100

$10K

$20K

$30K

$40K

$50K

$60K

$70K

$80K

Pay scale

The base pay for teachers increases with tenure at the district. The salaries are based on an 187-day contract.

$62,400 $62,100

$63,600

$65,400

$67,900

$10K

$20K

$30K

$40K

$50K

$60K

$70K

$80K

SOURCE: MCKINNEY ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

from the district’s reserve fund balance, which is similar to a savings account. The district will have $73.96 million remaining in its fund balance at the end of the 2024-25 scal year.

sta pay, Harbeson said. The district must also review program oerings to ensure the district is operating eciently, she said. To address the budget shortfall and pay for teacher raises, $21.79 million will be reallocated

Diving in deeper

Quotes of note

Teacher starting salaries by district

McKinney ISD competes with a mixture of surrounding school districts and private industries when hiring and retaining employees, Jackson said. The district has had teachers leave MISD to join a district that is giving a stipend or similar finan- cial incentive. A number of teachers will return to the district because the stipend was discontinued or the support provided by the district is not as vast as MISD’s, she said. “Offering a competitive salary is important because our educators need to feel appreciated and valued for the crucial roles they play in edu- cating our students,” Jackson said in an email. Showing appreciation is another way MISD is working to retain its staff. The district will conduct “Stay Interviews” with randomly selected employ- ees to acknowledge their work. MISD employees also have access to an Employee Assistance Program, which provides services to counseling, life coaches and more for no cost to district staff, Jackson said. The district also provides teachers with a list

“MISD does the best job it can in prioritizing teacher pay given current state funding formulas.”

Prosper ISD $60,000

McKinney ISD $62,100

MARLENE HARBESON, MCKINNEY ISD CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Frisco ISD $60,500

Allen ISD $60,400

Plano ISD $61,000

“In public education, we recognize the limitations of funding, but we continue to make a commitment

to our educators by staying a top competitive district.” DARLA JACKSON, MCKINNEY ISD DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES

SOURCES: ALLEN, FRISCO, MCKINNEY, PLANO, PROSPER ISDS/COMMUNITY IMPACT

of businesses who provide discounts to MISD employees. “These are only some of the ways we show our employees how much we appreciate them and want them in MISD doing the important work for all of our students,” Jackson said.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM