Round Rock trustees approve a 1% raise for 2024-25 school year

Round Rock school district employees will receive a 1% pay increase for the 2024-25 school year.

During its meeting Thursday, the school board approved the salary increases as part of its compensation plan for the upcoming school year.

The pay bump will increase the starting salary of teachers and librarians from $54,500 to $56,500. Anyone else who makes above the starting salary will receive a $625 pay increase, said Christen Grey, the district's director of compensation, benefits and total rewards.

The 1% raise will cost the district approximately $3.7 million, Grey said.

All other eligible district employees will see a 1% general pay increase, Grey said. Additionally, the starting rate for bus drivers will increase from $21.50 to $23.50 per hour. Other staffers in the transportation department will also receive a $2 per hour raise. Grey said because of vacancies, it will cost the district nothing to give bus drivers the raises.

The board also approved a one-time $500 retention incentive to all eligible employees if student enrollment at the end of October equals or is greater than 47,000. An additional one-time incentive of $500 will be given if enrollment is equal to or greater than 47,500 by a date, to be decided later, in the spring.

As of Tuesday, the district's enrollment was at 46,826.

The incentive would cost the district $3.3 million for the first payout and $6.6 million if two payments are given, Grey said. The district has 6,341 employees.

"Obviously I want to give more than 1%, and I know that is just not in our future right now," board President Amber Landrum said.

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This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Round Rock trustees approve 1% raise for 2024-25 school year