Judson ISD directors approve 6% increase for employees
Superintendent Dr. Jeanette Ball admitted last week that the Judson School Board‘s approval of a 6% pay raise was something she never thought could happen in her district.
On May 19, the Judson Independent School District Board of Trustees unanimously approved a compensation plan with a 6% increase, with retention incentives for employees of $2,000 for transportation, childcare , auxiliaries, plus $1,000 incentives for professionals and teachers.
The district will tap into its vast fund balance to acquire the $22 million needed to cover the payroll needs of a 6% wage increase.
“In a few minutes we’ll be making history,” Ball said before the vote, “because a 6% increase, when I started this budget process, I never thought we could do that. .”
The District’s fund/cash reserve balance is $106 million, a healthy amount and well above the 3-4 month “emergency budget threshold” typically held by most districts.
“Our current fund balance is $106 million. The estimated fund balance increase for 2021-22 will be approximately $3 million,” Ball said. The 6% covers salary increases for teachers, auxiliaries, office workers, police and bus drivers, while professional staff will receive a 4% increase. “I think it’s something we can be proud of,” added the superintendent.
Board Trustee Suzanne Kenoyer thanked Ball and Deputy Superintendent of Finance and Operations Bill Atkins “and his team for doing all of this thorough and hard work. You have brought us all these different proposals to launch, to launch, to enable us to do what we are going to be able to do here this evening.
Board administrator Jose Macias said he was “giddy with excitement” to be able to offer the pay rise. Macias, a board member for almost a few months over the past 10 years, said he remembers the difficult years when deserving staff only received a $500 or $1,000 stipend because the budget process was thin and difficult.
“It’s a good thing,” said Jose Macias. “We have to be competitive with the other districts, so I’m looking forward to doing that part of the job.”
A near-full room clapped several times during the meeting – staff members obviously happy to hear about the upcoming increases.
“I’m proud that the board is allowing me to do this, to provide something good for all of our staff,” Ball said. “I appreciate our staff. Believe me, I wish I could do more. But at the same time, I have to strike a balance so I can have the healthiest amount possible. »
“We all care about our employees,” Kenoyer said. “We want them to have in their pockets the funds they need to be able to feed their families and take care of all these expenses. We’ve really worked hard on this and have your best interest in mind.