Dallas ISD confirms pay raise for teachers as newly approved budget for fiscal year 2023-24 sees 7% increase
Dallas, Texas – In a resolute move to adjust educator pay scales, the Dallas Independent School District (DISD) Board of Trustees, on June 22, cast a decisive vote establishing a comprehensive budget of $2 billion for the fiscal year 2023-24.
Dallas Independent School District newly approved budget for fiscal year 2023-24 is 7% higher
The approval signified an approximate growth of 7% from the previous year’s budget, albeit it entailed a simultaneous reduction in allocations for areas such as staff development, social work, and food services.
The inception of the budgetary decision comes on the heels of a wider appeal by multiple North Texas school districts, inclusive of the DISD, during the preceding month. These educational entities expressed a clarion call for an augmentation of state funding for public education, citing an inevitable need to account for inflation.
The legislative response, however, took a divergent path as the Texas Legislature laid emphasis on the facilitation of a school voucher system, ostensibly a financial aid for parents seeking private schooling for their wards, with no concomitant augmentation in public school funding.
Dallas ISD starting pay for teachers will now move to $61,000 from last year’s $60,000
The particulars of the newly minted budget unveil several noteworthy changes. For one, teachers can now anticipate a minimum annual remuneration of $61,000, a marked increase from the prior year’s $60,000.
The Texas Education Agency suggests an average salary of about $64,000 for DISD’s teachers. In tandem with teaching staff, other employees also stand to gain as the lowest permissible wage has been raised to $16 an hour, an increment of a dollar from last year’s figure.
Dallas Independent School District budget also has roughly $63 million reserved for performance-based retention incentives
In addition, the budget also incorporates a significant sum of roughly $63 million reserved for performance-based retention incentives. Employees receiving commendations for “exemplary” or “master” levels of performance are eligible for a $4,000 bonus, which will be doled out in three separate payments during the fiscal year.
Those with a less satisfactory performance review will also receive an incentive, albeit it amounts to a modest sum of $500. Furthermore, staff members boasting of a five-year tenure or longer with the DISD can expect an additional incentive of $1,000.
The FY 2023-24 for DISD commences on July 1, spanning until June 30, 2024, as stipulated by the budget documents. Those seeking more detailed insights into the DISD budget are encouraged to visit the district’s official website.
In a similar move, Fort Worth Independent School district also voted new, increased budget, approving pay increase for teachers and staff part of the Fort Worth ISD.
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