Friday, Aug. 01, 2008
Carroll Trustees Approve Raises
CISD Hopes Hike Will Make Pay Scale More Competitive with Nearby Districts
By Scott Price
Staff Writer
The Carroll School Board trustees voted 6-0 this week to give district employees a minimum of 3 percent raises based on actual salaries.
But the district’s budget will not be finalized until it is considered later this month.
Previously, CISD trustees had considered giving a pay increase based on the mid point of pay scales, which would have been more focused on veteran teachers.
On Monday, the trustees first voted for a 3 percent pay increase for employees based on actual salaries, and then they revised that plan by voting for a "minimum of 3 percent" pay increases based on actual salaries.
The current starting salary for a teacher with a bachelor’s degree and no experience in CISD is $43,500. The approved plan would increase that salary to a minimum of $44,805, which officials said would make CISD more competitive in attracting teachers.
According to the United Educators Association, CISD was ranked 11 in the western Metroplex for starting salaries in 2007-08.
The budget currently being considered by CISD is about $81 million. Trustees said they plan to have another budget workshop meeting to better understand the adjustments in the funding formula template by the Texas Education Agency.
Robb Welch, CISD assistant superintendent for financial services, said the change in the TEA had a positive effect on the district and lowered the Chapter 41 payment from $14,696,372 to $12,313,538 for CISD. The Chapter 41 payment formula is popularly known as the Robin Hood plan, in which property wealthy districts pay money into the state to fund property poor districts.
In other action: CISD Superintendent David Faltys announced that a proposal to contract with the Dallas County Schools for transportation services would be dropped. "There doesn’t appear to be any financial benefit to us," Faltys said.
CISD will continue its cooperative agreement with the Grapevine-Colleyville school district to provide transportation services, Faltys stated.
CISD trustees had considered forming a legislative committee to lobby the Texas Legislative. But on Monday the board appointed Trustees Sue Armstrong and Craig Rothmeier as legislative liaisons. Although a committee was not formed, they said, all trustees would be asked to participate. The activities will include a community education program to help residents better understand what the school district does.
"We believe Carroll should be more involved" in the community, Armstrong said.
The CISD trustees voted to leave the plate lunch prices as they were, but they said the a la carte prices could be increased.
CISD Child Nutrition Services had proposed increasing the price of plate lunches by 25 to 35 cents, depending on grade level. CISD’s lunch prices are among the highest of Metroplex school districts, with elementary students paying $2.15 for lunch and secondary students and adults paying $3.
However, district officials said that Monday’s decision means that the price of some a la carte items, which are more often purchased at the higher grade levels, could increase by as much as 50 percent. Officials said the costs of many food items have increased this year because of high fuel costs.
Faltys said the district has a healthy fund balance, and some of that money could be used for Nutrition Services if it were needed later this school year.
District officials said new lunch items that will be offered this year include rice bowls and sushi at $4 each.
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