BURTON SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES PAY RAISES, ADOPTS CELL PHONE POLICY

  

The Burton School Board on Monday approved pay raises for employees as part of the district’s compensation plan for the 2025-26 school year. 

Teachers with up to two years of experience will receive a $2,000 increase, while teachers between three and four years in the profession will be allotted an extra $4,000, and teachers with five or more years of experience will receive $8,000. 

Support personnel will receive 6 percent of the midpoint allotment, bus drivers will receive a step scale increase, and administrators will get 4 percent of the midpoint allotment.

Business Manager Caitlyn Blakey-Staal said the allotments for teachers with three or more years of experience are being funded by the state, according to House Bill 2 from the 89^th Legislature, which requires the $4,000 and $8,000 amounts.  The allotments for teachers with up to two years of experience will be locally funded.

As for support personnel, Blakey-Staal said the allotments are only partially funded by the state through a slight increase of roughly $45 per student, based on average daily attendance.  The remaining amount is being funded locally. 

The allotments for administration, per Blakey-Staal, are also being handled on the local level, as the state is not providing funding for that personnel group.

In total, the approved allotments bring up Burton ISD’s payroll expenses by $465,000, including $380,000 for teachers and $85,000 for support staff and administration.

Also at Monday’s meeting, trustees adopted district policy in adherence to the state’s newly passed law, House Bill 1481, that prohibits students from using personal communication devices – like cell phones, smart watches and personal laptops – during the instructional day. 

Superintendent Vikki Curry said the policy comes from the Texas Education Agency and will not be modified, but the district will create the administrative regulations for how it goes about enforcing the policy.  She noted that in the past, students were allowed to use their devices during periods in between classes, and they were doing very well about not using them at inappropriate times. 

The board also heard an update on the status of ongoing district construction projects.  Representatives from Weaver & Jacobs Constructors said much of the focus of late has been on the kitchen and cafeteria area in order to get it ready for occupancy by a date of September 2^nd.  The first day of school is August 13^th.  Board President Jeff Harmel said as the beginning of class draws closer, the district will have a better idea of what is done and what accommodations need to be put into place for students.