After months of planning and discussion, at the May regular meeting, RISD Trustees approved an aggressive 2023-24 compensation package for employees that brings RISD much closer to competing school districts and emphasizes a higher salary for teachers with more experience.
Throughout the spring, Trustees and staff have reviewed staff salary data for RISD compared to both competing districts in North Texas, and also benchmark districts around the state. Trustees also studied results of a compensation and benefits survey of RISD staff to help prioritize compensation levels in the current budget cycle.
“This compensation package is critically important to attract, and more importantly, retain our high quality teachers, educators and staff,” said Superintendent Tabitha Branum. “In terms of salary, we had fallen well behind many of the districts we compete against, and this aggressive package is an important step to reward our educators and support staff in line with our industry, and help attract outstanding new educators to Richardson ISD. I’m grateful to our Trustees for prioritizing our staff – heading into budget planning, staff compensation has been our top priority, and our Board has delivered.”
Salary increases for teachers, counselors, nurses and librarians will range from 5.75% to 8% based on years of experience, plus stipends for educators in areas of critical need, like special education and bilingual. In addition, the district is adding additional leave options for employees seeking time away for maternity, paternity, or bereavement. The 2023-24 compensation package is supplemented by benefits available to all RISD employees, including an employee & family acute care health clinic, low cost daycare options through RISD’s employee child learning academies, and low cost Pre-Kindergarten options starting at age 3.
Click here to see specific 2023-24 compensation levels for employees meeting performance expectations.
RISD’s operating tax rate is currently at a 30 year low, and under the Texas school finance system, the district’s operating budget does not benefit from the ongoing increases in home and property values – the benefit of those additional tax dollars collected from RISD taxpayers goes to the state of Texas for uses determined by the legislature. Public schools have not received increased funding from the state since 2019, and since that time, inflation has increased by as much as 17%.
RISD is facing a budget deficit, and continues to identify expenditure reductions in the current (2022-23) and upcoming (2023-24) budget years. Throughout the spring, the district has identified approximately $4.5 million reductions and efficiencies. Trustees will continue to discuss possible reductions and additional revenue strategies in advance of adopting the 2023-24 budget in June. RISD leadership has continued to request additional funding from the legislature to keep pace with inflation.
Click here to watch the May 4 budget and compensation discussion.
Click here to catch up on RISD’s budget planning discussions that began in January.
