KILLEEN, Texas — Killeen Independent School District superintendent Dr. John Craft said Thursday afternoon every teacher in the district, as well as other employees, will get a pay raise if a proposed compensation package passes.
Craft said the raises are one of the biggest items on his agenda this summer, and teachers could end up with a pay bump of several thousand dollars.
The direct compensation package, which the district's Board of Trustees will vote on next Tuesday, includes $16.8 million to be directly applied to district classrooms. Under the package, beginning teachers' yearly salaries would increase from $47,000 to $50,300.
Craft said a general pay increase has been proposed in the new budget for all teachers in the district. He said that raise will be based on experience and ranges from 6.6% to 10%.
Even if the budget isn't passed, Craft said he'll keep fighting to increase teacher pay.
"We go back to the drawing board," he said. "We work harder and we bring back a compensation package that meets not only our employees' needs, but also satisfies our Board of Trustees."
Teachers aren't the only employees in the district that would see a pay bump under the package.
Bus drivers would see the second largest increase in pay at 8%, while librarians, counselors and nurses would get a 4.5% increase. Craft said other support staff would receive a 3.5% increase.
Craft said the district's bus driver shortage has impacted the district.
"We're narrowing the gap," Craft said. "At the same time, it ebbs and flows. We're really encouraging and trying to recruit as much as possible."
He said they've been aggressive in working to give them a pay raise they deserve. The compensation package also includes a safe driver and attendance incentive, offering $4,000 annually.
It's important to note this is just a proposed compensation plan, and it does take board approval to go into effect.
Killeen Educators Association president Rick Beaule said he approves of the pay bump.
"Any person charged with the education of our children deserves to be compensated in a manner that allows them to live, and not just almost survive," he said.
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