TEXARKANA, Texas - Texarkana Independent School District employees will receive pay increases in the 2021-22 compensation plan approved Tuesday by the Board of Trustees.
The plan includes teacher step increases in salary and a 3% bonus for all other professional, paraprofessional and auxiliary employees who receive a satisfactory performance rating of 3.0 or above on their 2020-21 appraisal.
"After such a challenging school year, we are happy to be able to provide these raises to our staff," Deputy Superintendent Autumn Thomas said. "I have been amazed at the Tiger family's ability to work under such difficult circumstances and still be able to meet expectations. Their work ethic and strive for excellence has been inspirational."
The board also approved an item that will increase paid adult meal pricing, as well as a resolution requiring school crossing guards to complete a training program.
The Texas Department of Agriculture provides guidance and tools to calculate adult meal pricing. TDA is requiring that TISD increase adult meal prices but has not given the specifics on what the increase must be.
The district is currently waiting for TDA and USDA rates to be released and will approve adult meal pricing once this information has been provided.
The school crossing guard resolution requires all school crossing guards employed by the district to complete a training program in traffic direction as defined by the basic peace officer course curriculum.
The board heard extracurricular reports as well. Given the COVID-19 pandemic during the 2020-21 school year, numbers reflected within the report are considerably lower than annual average.
Eighty-seven percent of the Texas Middle School student body participated in extracurricular activities ranging from athletics to performance programs to clubs and organizations. The breakdown by grade was 68% participation in sixth grade, 98% participation in seventh grade and 97% participation in eighth grade.
For Texas High School, 80% of all students participated in at least one activity with the participation percentage for grades nine through 12 at 79%. THS offers 22 athletic programs to students along with five performance courses, six activity courses and 31 clubs and organizations for students to be involved in, including UIL Academics which feature opportunities in 12 academic areas.
The last item on the agenda was a review item for the district's project update.
The summer projects list is nearing completion for the start of school. A total of 37 projects over 16 facilities were completed, along with district-wide exterior painting and floor striping and waxing.
The next meeting for the TISD board of trustees will be Tuesday, Aug. 17.