NEWS RELEASE
April 14, 2025
The San Antonio ISD Board of Trustees tonight approved a pay increase for all full-time, permanent employees in the district for the 2025-2026 academic year. The total district cost of increased compensation totals $14.7 million and includes a 4% general pay increase for full-time hourly staff and a 3% pay increase for teachers and other exempt staff.
The approved compensation package increases the entry pay rate for hourly full-time staff to $17 per hour, and the entry salary for teachers will increase to $60,000. Head custodians will receive a pay grade elevation, as will certain instructional assistants including roles in health, behavior support curriculum (BSC), and mental health. The compensation package also continues police department recruiting initiatives.
“While the District is facing a structural deficit, we remain committed to prioritizing staff compensation. Our employees are our most valuable resource, and like many across the country, they are feeling the impact of rising inflation,” said Superintendent Jaime Aquino. “This increase reflects the deep appreciation and respect we have for every SAISD employee. We are grateful for all that they do in support of our students and families.”
To make this investment in staff possible, SAISD has made significant expenditure reductions to its budget. SAISD is facing a $51 million structural deficit, and to address this, the district is cutting $17 million per year over the next three years.
SAISD is not alone in navigating these financial challenges. A survey from the Texas Association of School Business Officials found that 80% of responding school districts are facing challenges of deficit budgets or insufficient resources. A major factor is that Texas has not increased the basic allotment, the foundational block for student funding in Texas, since 2019. To keep up with inflation, the basic allotment would need to increase from $6,160 to $7,515. So far, it remains at $6,160, despite a 22% increase in inflation over the past six years.
The board’s approval of tonight’s compensation package is contingent upon the pay increase being counted toward any staff compensation mandate that may be enacted during the current 89th Texas legislative session. If the state legislature mandates a staff compensation increase during its current session that exceeds the district’s plan, the district will make any adjustments to compensation to meet the requirement for that group. However, any new revenue resulting from legislative action will contribute toward maintaining this compensation increase, rather than being added on top of it.
The approved pay increases will be incorporated into the board’s formal budget adoption on June 23 and will take effect with the start of each employee group’s workday calendar in the 2025-2026 academic year.