Lake Houston - Humble - Kingwood Edition | June 2022

EDUCATION BRIEFS

News from Lone Star College System, Humble & New Caney ISDs

QUOTE OF NOTE

Humble ISD raises starting teacher salary to $61,500

“IN A YEAR WHERE WE FEEL LIKE IT MAY BE MORE DIFFICULT TO HIRE, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE.”

BY WESLEY GARDNER

PRIORITIZING PAY Humble ISD has increased its starting teacher salary by over 13% over the past ‡ve school years.

HUMBLE ISD Humble ISD trustees approved a compen- sation plan for the 2022-23 school year that includes 4% on-average pay raises for all sta€ members and $1,000 stipends for returning full-time auxiliary, child nutrition, custodial and transportation sta€. During the board’s May 24 meeting, HISD Chief Financial O‰cer Billy Beattie said the 4% increase, which will raise a starting teacher’s salary from $59,000 to $61,500, was necessary to keep HISD competitive. In April, HISD o‰cials suggested a 3% raise for all employees. Beattie said the bump up to 4% was made to avoid potential teacher shortages in 2022-23. “The 4% model helps us remain competitive [with nearby districts and] even gain a little ground,” Beattie said. “In a year where we feel like it may be more di‰cult to hire, we want to be able to remain competitive.” Additionally, Beattie said the 2022-23 compensation plan

$54,400

2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23

BILLY BEATTIE, HUMBLE ISD CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

$56,700 $56,700

STATE NEWS Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has requested the formation of two special legislative committees to investigate school safety and mass violence following a May 24 shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, which resulted in the deaths of 19 students and two teachers. In a letter sent June 1, Abbott asked Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan to each create a special legislative committee, which will examine actions taken by previous legislatures regarding gun violence, review the resources available to local school districts and make recommendations to prevent future school shootings. According to a news release, the recommendations will surround school safety, mental health, social media, police training and ‡rearm safety. Humble ISD board of trustees meets at 7 p.m. July 12 at 20200 Eastway Village Drive, Humble. 281-641-1000. www.humbleisd.net New Caney ISD board of trustees meets July 18 and Aug. 15 at 21580 Loop 494, New Caney. 281-577-8600. www.newcaneyisd.org Lone Star College System board of trustees meets June 29 and Aug. 4 at 5000 Research Forest Drive, The Woodlands. 832-813-6500. www.lonestar.edu MEETINGS WE COVER

$59,000

$61,500

SOURCE: HUMBLE ISD›COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

will increase substitute teachers’ pay rate by $40 per day. Board members approved a temporary pay increase of $40 per day for substitute teachers during the 2021-22 school year, though Beattie said the approved plan will make that increase permanent.

New Caney ISD ocials begin planning process for West Fork High School Phase 2

Lone Star College System adds online campus for fall 2022

BY WESLEY GARDNER

NEW CANEY ISD Trustees approved the process to seek out a construction company to manage Phase 2 of New Caney ISD’s West Fork High School on May 16. The $110 million campus—which was included in the district’s 2018 bond program—will open to freshmen in fall 2022. O‰cials noted the campus can currently accommodate 1,350 students, and Phase 2 will expand that capacity to 2,250 students. Scott Powers, NCISD’s executive director of public relations, said the district will likely select a construc- tion company to manage Phase 2 later this summer.

BY ANDREW CHRISTMAN

LONE STAR COLLEGE SYSTEM Starting in August, the Lone Star College System will launch its eighth campus as a way for students to receive their degrees entirely online. According to an April 11 news release, the new campus was added in response to demand for virtual learning, and it has been in the works for nearly a decade. LSCS o‰cials said in an email that the new campus has added around $2 million to the system’s general existing budget and will launch with 40 full-time sta€ members from within the college system.

Construction is underway on West Fork High School.

COURTESY NEW CANEY ISD

Powers noted Phase 2 construc- tion for West Fork High School would be associated with a future bond election, though the district has no timeline on when another bond proposition might be pre- sented to the board. An estimated cost for Phase 2 construction has not yet been announced.

Cameron H. Hayes, AAMS ® , CRPC ® , CRPS ® FINANCIAL ADVISOR 19701 Kingwood Dr., Bldg 1 • Suite A Kingwood, TX 77339 832-644-2117 cameron.hayes@edwardjones.com edwardjones.com

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