The Round Rock ISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved an adjustment to the current 2021-2022 compensation plan in order to give an immediate pay increase to instructional support employees, including educational assistants. The Board approved the change at a called meeting on Thursday, March 31. These employees will also be eligible for a districtwide pay increase for the 2022-2023 school year. The Board is scheduled to consider the 2022-2023 compensation plan later this spring.
Depending on the position level and current pay rate, educational assistants will receive a pay increase ranging from 10 to 18 percent. For example, starting pay for an Educational Assistant II will increase from $13.15 to $15.50 an hour. The midpoint in that range moves from $16 to $18.68 an hour, and the top of the range increases from an hourly rate of $18.85 to $21.86.
The highest-paid educational assistants are those who work with special education students in a Title I school setting. Title I campuses receive federal funding due to a large population of economically disadvantaged students. Starting pay in that category will move from an hourly rate of $15.92 to $17.94, midpoint from $19.41 to $21.62, and top of the range goes from $22.90 to $25.30.
“Our instructional support staff members are crucially important to the success of our students and we know their pay does not match the value they provide our campuses,” Superintendent Dr. Hafedh Azaiez said. “This is an area that needed to be addressed immediately and I am grateful to the Board for recognizing the importance of this move.”
The pay increase will cost an additional $470,000 this school year and will be funded through salary savings from unfilled positions.
“I am so proud that this action means that educational assistants in Round Rock ISD will be the highest paid in Central Texas, and I look forward to doing more when we consider the compensation plan for next year,” Board President Amber Feller said. “As a Board, we will do all we can to support and fairly compensate our staff members, but we also call on state legislators to prioritize education funding and make sure local school districts have the resources to pay educators what they are worth.”
New Compensation Plan for Instructional Support Positions
Previously approved 2021-2022 Compensation Plan
Proposed and Current Compensation by Pay Grade
102
$15.50 – $18.68 – $21.86 – Proposed
$13.15 -$16.00- $18.85 – Current
103
$16.28 – $19.61 – $22.94 – Proposed
$14.17 – $17.28 – $20.39 – Current
104
$17.09 – 20.59 – 24.09 – Proposed
15.03 – 18.32 – 21.61 – Current
105
17.94 – 21.62 – 25.30 – Proposed
15.92 – 19.41 – 22.90 – Current