(Seguin) – The Seguin ISD is positioning itself so that it can remain competitive in not only attracting but retaining quality classroom teachers for the upcoming school year.
The Seguin ISD Board of Trustees on Tuesday unanimously approved a pay increase for teachers and all other employees.
The approved wage increase includes 4 percent for teachers, clerical and those in the maintenance, custodial and transportation departments. Campus administrators and other professional staff will also see an increase of 3.5 percent. Those in the district’s Child Nutrition Department will also see an average hourly increase of $1.50.
Sean Hoffmann, the chief communications officer for the Seguin ISD, says the district had no choice but to remain competitive.
“There have been many teachers over the past few years that have either left the profession or teachers have the opportunity to pick an choose where they want to teach because of the teacher shortage and so it’s very competitive and school districts including the Seguin ISD are trying to set salaries so that we not only retain our teachers but we can also recruit as well,” said Hoffmann.
Hoffmann says the competitiveness in the teaching field for districts across the state has also led to a significant jump in the starting pay for first year teachers.
“We have increased our first year, new teacher salary to $57,000 a year so that means a certified teacher coming out of college, may have never taught before, we will hire that teacher and that is the rate at $57,000 and again that is trying to keep in step with area and regional school districts because we are all competing for a limited number of teachers,” said Hoffmann.
The $57,000 is up from last year’s starting pay of $54,000.
On top of increasing its salaries, Hoffmann says the school district has also been forced to utilize some creativity when filling those vacancies.
“A couple of items that we have on the table right now are stipends. Number one, a Refer a Friend stipend – We are offering this to all employees who refer a teacher who is ultimately hired here in the Seguin ISD and that is an amount of $500 per teaching position. We are also offering a Welcome Back stipend for any former Seguin ISD teacher who has left the district perhaps has gone to a neighboring district, maybe realized that the grass isn’t greener on the other side of the county line so if that teacher is interested in coming back and has been gone for at least a full year, we will give that teacher also a $500 stipend for returning back to the Seguin ISD,” said Hoffmann.
Hoffmann adds that although the salaries have been set, these amounts could still potentially increase following state action.
“These amounts could possibly increase if additional state funding is approved through the 88th Legislative Session up in Austin. We are somewhat hopeful for that to happen but are very cautiously not holding our breath for that to happen in that legislative session. So, with these salaries set, our teachers know what they are going to be making next fall,” said Hoffmann.
Salaries make up approximately 80 percent of the Seguin ISD’s school budget. Salaries are typically key components that need to be established so districts can continue their budget process for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.