Pay raises approved for all staff

Northwest ISD trustees unanimously approved pay raises for all staff as part of the 2025-2026 compensation plan, providing financial incentives to help the district retain and recruit high-quality teachers and staff.

Veteran teachers will see the largest gains through the new compensation plan, with teachers who have 5 or more years of experience receiving a $5,000 pay increase as part of the new State Teacher Allotment. Northwest ISD has dedicated money to ensure all teachers receive raises, however, including raises not funded through the State Teacher Allotment. A first-year teacher in Northwest ISD will now receive a starting salary of $63,750, keeping the district highly competitive in the region.

Through the new compensation plan, the district is investing more than $9 million in state funding to educator salaries and $4.1 million in new funding to non-teaching staff. Raises for teachers are funded through new revenue made possible by House Bill 2, recently signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott. While the bill provided limited funding for raises for other staff, Northwest ISD is using revenue from enrollment growth and House Bill 2 to ensure every staff member receives a competitive raise. This ranked as a priority for district leaders, as all staff members contribute to the education and support of students.

In addition to raises, Northwest ISD will increase the district’s contribution to TRS benefit plans by $10 for a total monthly contribution of $355, one of the highest contribution rates in the area. Through a separate agenda item, trustees approved a district policy to provide an additional paid day of leave for employee wellness.

2025-2026 Teacher Hiring Schedule

BALANCED BUDGET

In addition to the compensation plan, trustees approved a balanced budget for the 2025-2026 school year following a necessary deficit-elimination plan that included staffing restructuring. These changes include increases to some class sizes and reductions in some program staffing.

While Northwest ISD remains appreciative of the Texas Legislature’s actions to improve educator salaries, few meaningful improvements were made to school funding. Of the increased funding Northwest ISD will receive as part of new state law, the overwhelming majority must be used for employee compensation.

Northwest ISD continues to evaluate a potential operations funding election, or Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election, to address some class size ratios and program staffing changes. In the district’s biennial Family Survey and through annual Staff Listening Sessions, parents and teachers alike expressed concern about class sizes and program staffing adjustments.