Judson ISD trustees approve 6 percent raise for employees
Superintendent Dr. Jeanette Ball admitted last week that the Judson school board’s approval of a 6 percent pay raise was something she never thought could happen in her district.
The Judson Independent School District board of trustees on May 19 unanimously approved a compensation plan with a 6 percent raise, with retention incentives for employees of $2,000 for transportation, custodial, auxiliary, 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 raising pay 6 percent.
“In a few minutes, we will be making history,” Ball said prior to the vote, “because a 6 percent raise, when I first started this budget process, never did I think we could do it.”
The district’s fund balance/cash reserve sits at $106 million, a healthy amount and well above the 3-to-4-month “emergency budget threshold” commonly held by most districts.
“Our current fund balance is $106 million. The estimated 2021-22 increase in the fund balance will be about $3 million,” Ball said. The 6 percent covers salary increases for teachers, auxiliary, clerical, police, and bus drivers, while professional staff will receive a 4 percent raise. “I think that’s something to be proud of,” the superintendent added.
Board Trustee Suzanne Kenoyer thanked Ball and Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Bill Atkins “and his team for doing all this deep-dive, hard work. You brought us all these different proposals to toss around, kick around, to enable us to do what we’re going to able to do here tonight.”
Board Trustee Jose Macias said he was “giddy with excitement” at being able to offer the salary increase. Macias, a board member for all but a few months of the past 10 years, said he recalled lean years when deserving staff got nothing but a $500 or $1,000 stipend, because the budget process was thin and difficult.
“This is some good stuff,” Jose Macias said. “We need to be competitive with other districts, so I’m eager to get that part of the job done.”
A near-full house applauded at several points during the meeting — staff members obviously glad to hear about the raises coming their way.
“I’m proud that the board allows me to be able to do this, to provide something good for all of our staff,” Ball said. “I value our staff. Believe me, I wish we could do more. But at the same time, I have to find a balance to be able to have the healthiest amount we can do.”
“We all care about our employees,” Kenoyer said. “We want them to have the funds in their pockets that they need to be able to feed their families and take care of all those expenses. We really worked hard on this and we do have your best interest in mind.”
