BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD WEIGHS OPTIONS FOR EMPLOYEE PAY RAISES
Pay raises for Brenham ISD employees were the focal point of discussion during the Brenham School Board’s budget workshop on Monday.
Trustees examined estimated figures of what the district would pay in order to provide cost-of-living raises for all staff in the amount of 2 to 3 percent, based off of the midpoint. Superintendent Clay Gillentine said the proposal is part of a “balanced” and “conservative” approach to this year’s budget that seeks to put money into three buckets: employee raises, restoring positions and staff over time, and replenishing the fund balance.
Chief Financial Officer Darrell St. Clair said a 3 percent raise would use approximately $1.1 million from the general fund, roughly $35,000 from the child nutrition fund, and about $36,000 for the appraisal and tax offices. In comparison, a 2 percent raise would use roughly $744,000 from the general fund, about $23,000 for child nutrition, and $24,000 for the appraisal and tax offices.
illustrating what Brenham ISD would spend to provide 2
percent or 3 percent pay raises for employees, based off
of the midpoint. (click to enlarge)
(Brenham ISD)
Last year, employees received raises through what was approved in the district’s budget and new state funding. Chief Communications and Engagement Officer Brooke Trahan said additional raises went through upon the passage of the Voter Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE), so that is a part of the district’s reoccurring “bucket” that it has to keep in mind moving forward, in addition to what is being considered for this year’s budget.
Trustee Kyle Hafner said Brenham ISD is in a better position now with salaries in terms of how it matches up with other school districts, and as a result, he does not believe further raises should be prioritized as much as taking care of the district’s fund balance.
showing how employee pay raises were funded last year
through what was established in Brenham ISD's 2025-26
budget and through the passage of the Voter Approval
Tax Rate Election. (click to enlarge)
(Brenham ISD)
Board President Jared Krenek agreed with Hafner that the district still has work to do to climb out of the hole, but financial projections show it is on the right track in doing so. He said the district cannot rush to fix the problem, and it still needs to take care of teachers.
At the start of the meeting, retired La Porte ISD Superintendent Lloyd W. Graham, who now lives in Brenham, told trustees to keep in mind that strategic planning covers more than just facilities, but also curriculum, staffing and compensation. He called building principals the “line officers” and said they are critical in realizing the image of what a school district wants a campus to be, and he encouraged the board to think about the way it compensates all of the district’s yearlong employees.
Trustees will review the district’s compensation plan during their next regular meeting on July 20th. Another budget workshop will be held on August 3rd to discuss certified property values and finalize the budget framework before final adoption at the board’s August 17th meeting.
Click here to view the budget presentation from Monday's workshop meeting.