Update on July 23, 2019: After a legislative session review and school board approval, a 3% compensation increase for 10- and 11-month employees at the midpoint of the applicable pay grade will be in effect for the 2019-20 school year. As previously reported, 12-month employees also received a 3% raise at their pay grade’s midpoint.

Teachers, librarians, counselors and nurses with up to five years of experience will receive a 3% raise at the midpoint of their pay grade. Teachers, librarians, counselors and nurses with six or more years of experience will receive a 3.5% raise at the midpoint of their pay grade.

Compensation for bus drivers and transportation staff on Pay Grades 5, 6 and 7 was determined on a market-based approach with flat rates. Bus drivers are set at $20 per hour, Pay Grade 5 is $21 per hour, Pay Grade 6 is $22 per hour and Pay Grade 7 is $24 per hour.

The Mansfield ISD School Board unanimously approved a balanced budget for the 2019-20 school year.

As part of the budget, 12-month employees will receive a 3% raise at their pay grade’s midpoint. A proposed 3% raise at the midpoint is included in the budget for 10- and 11-month employees as well, but compensation will not be adopted until after a review of the 2019 legislative session changes to ensure compliance with any legislative mandates.

Mansfield ISD’s projected new teacher salary is $56,019. There could also be future monetary incentives for teachers with six years or more of experience once the review is completed.

“We are putting more money into raises than the new Texas school finance law requires because we value our educators,” said School Board President Karen Marcucci. “There are still a lot of unknowns about how the law will directly impact the district and what new mandates we will have to adhere to, so we as a district want to remain fiscally responsible as more of those specifics are being released.”

House Bill 3 (HB 3), which was signed into law on June 11, gave more funding per student to Texas public school districts, but it was not an equitable bill. School districts do not receive the same dollar amount per student. Therefore, Mansfield ISD still receives less funding per student than the regional and state average.

Despite that, MISD teachers will be given more than twice the amount that is required under the law. Mansfield ISD’s projected new teacher salary is also ranked higher than most districts. Read more about how House Bill 3 affects MISD.

“The challenge we faced as a school district was having to create a budget without knowing the exact implications of the new school finance law,” said Dr. Karen Wiesman, associate superintendent of business and finance. “I’m very pleased that we were able to propose a balanced budget while still compensating our educators above the amount that was required and keeping our salaries very competitive.”

MISD’s 2019-20 general operating budget totals $307.6 million. Debt service is $58.3 million. The budget for student nutrition, which is not funded through local tax dollars, was approved for $18 million with no increase in student meal prices.

The tax rate is scheduled to go for approval at a future board meeting.

View more information about the 2019-20 budget here.