LISD approves employee compensation plan with raises

LISD

The Lockhart Independent School District Board of Trustees, deeply committed to the well-being and financial stability of staff, recognized the need for higher pay and continued monthly health insurance savings while maintaining exceptional coverage, unanimously passed the 2024-2025 employee compensation and staffing plans at Monday’s school board meeting. The compensation package is another step towards the district’s goal of creating a pathway to $100,000 by 2028. Lockhart ISD currently has four teachers earning $100,000 and many more teachers projected to accomplish that milestone in the coming years. 

Teachers will receive up to 4.6 percent in pay raises with continued emphasis on rewarding veteran teachers for their valuable experience and years of service. With this compensation plan, Lockhart ISD continues to be one of the highest-paying districts in Central Texas for veteran teachers with years of service from any school district. 

Clerical paraprofessional, Auxiliary, and Administrative professional staff will receive a 3 percent pay raise of the midpoint of the new pay scale recommended by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) pay study.

In addition to increased pay, Lockhart ISD will continue to provide a comprehensive compensation package that includes the highly successful self-funded health insurance, Lion Care. The Lion Care Plan offers exceptional coverage while maintaining a $0 monthly cost for employee-only coverage. The Lion Care Plan will continue to generate savings while providing superior quality and coverage, offering staff the lowest deductibles, prescription costs, co-pays, and other out-of-pocket expenses. 

To continue protecting the continuity of learning and services for students and supporting teachers, the Board also approved a pay increase of up to 26 percent for all substitute teachers and an increase of up to 50 percent for substitute nurses district-wide. 

Staffing for the 2024-2025 school year provides intentional support to students and staff designed to increase student success. The district added positions to provide special education, social work, intervention, fine arts, school safety, curriculum, and instructional support for Lockhart ISD students. 

These staffing positions, superior health care coverage, and significant pay raises are a testament to the Lockhart ISD school board’s sound and sustainable decision-making over the last several years. Additionally, the overwhelming community support for last November’s VATRE has contributed to the district’s economic success. This support has positioned LISD to remain highly competitive compared to surrounding districts while also creating a balanced budget.

“The school district’s goal in this budget was to focus on having a LockHeart for People in caring for its staff, while also providing a balanced budget,” said Chief Financial Officer Nicole Weiser. “We are very proud to offer a plan that increases pay at all levels while continuing to save our staff money with reduced monthly health insurance costs.” 

“We are at a critical crossroads for public education, and with many staff experiencing hardship and no shortage of choices for employment, it was important to the Board and our leadership team to make sure we took care of our people and keep talent in the district to benefit our students,” added Superintendent Mark Estrada. “While this is another great step, we are committed to continuing the hard work to ensure our compensation package leverages every ability to utilize state funding while also helping us reach our goal of 30 percent of Lockhart teachers making $100K by 2028.”