| The Dallas Schools presented a budget to the | | | | administrative employees will see about a 3% |
| trustees that may have teachers receiving | | | | raise. The Dallas Schools will create |
| raises as high as $5000 next school year. The | | | | incentive stipends to encourage principals |
| proposed $1.16 billion budget contains nearly | | | | and teachers to move to "hard to staff" |
| $31.5 million for salary increases and new | | | | schools. Within the Dallas Schools there are |
| incentives for educators and support staff of | | | | three area high schools and two middle |
| the Dallas Schools. The Dallas Schools will | | | | schools considered "hard to staff' due to |
| also cover the rise in health insurance costs | | | | their location in low income and high crime |
| for its employees, instead of passing that | | | | areas. Those willing to move there could get |
| cost on through higher premiums, which means | | | | anywhere from $6000 for teachers, to $10,000 |
| lower pay checks. | | | | for principals. The details of that incentive |
| | | | plan are still in the planning stages, but |
| Budget Impacts Sizes of Dallas Schools | | | | administrators in Dallas Schools feel that |
| | | | this will attract experienced quality |
| The budget for the Dallas Schools also | | | | teachers and administrators to the areas |
| contains funding for the effort to have | | | | where their skills are the most desperately |
| smaller class sizes in middle schools, and | | | | needed. |
| more arts teachers in the elementary schools. | | | | |
| Added funds will also give the high school | | | | The trustees of the Dallas Schools are |
| teachers an additional planning period. These | | | | scheduled to vote on the budget at a meeting |
| are the things that teachers in the Dallas | | | | in June. The overall spending in Dallas |
| Schools say are important to them. These | | | | Schools is expected to increase by about $38 |
| three efforts alone, proposed and encouraged | | | | million; however the Dallas taxpayers will |
| by the teachers and administrators of the | | | | not see an increase in their contribution. |
| Dallas Schools, could take a $17.1 million | | | | They will actually see a lower tax rate |
| bite out of the proposed budget. But all | | | | because of a growing tax base, increased aid |
| involved say that the pay off is well worth | | | | for schools from the state, and lower |
| the cost. Superintendent Michael Hinojosa of | | | | interest payments on the 2002 bond program. |
| the Dallas Schools called the plan a "robust, | | | | Dallas Schools Teacher Union President, Aimee |
| teacher-friendly" budget. Educators laud his | | | | Bolender, said that the proposed salary |
| long-term vision in an era of high-stakes | | | | increases are "more than fair, and that the |
| testing. There is a national battle on where | | | | other initiatives - smaller classes and more |
| to spend scarce educational funds. | | | | planning time - will benefit educators. More |
| | | | importantly it will have a positive impact on |
| Pay Packages for Teachers in Dallas Schools | | | | the education of the students of the Dallas |
| | | | Schools that we serve". |
| On average other school support staff such as | | | | |