EPISD board approves $479.5 million budget

June 18--El Paso Independent School District teachers will get an average salary increase of 2.3 percent next year and other employees will receive an average increase of 1 percent in a budget approved Tuesday by the board of managers.

Critically for board members, the plan also equalized significant differences in steps on the teacher pay scale.

To pay for a number of capital costs on top of those raises, EPISD's $479.5 million budget will use almost $10 million from the district's fund balance.

Tuesday's vote was the culmination of a budget process that began with the elimination of teacher positions and cuts to other spending in response to a projected enrollment drop -- and associated state funding. To align staffing on campuses with expected enrollment numbers, the district cut 172 teacher positions and made other cuts in central office staffing and items such as travel.

As part of the budget, the district's food service workers will also receive a 5 percent salary increase from federal funds. The board also approved stipend increases for teachers certified for dual credit courses -- which offer students high school and college credit simultaneously -- as well as wrestling and soccer coaches.

The board also voted to maintain its contribution of $435 per employee for health care costs. The Teachers Retirement System board, which includes EPISD in its health insurance pool, approved premium increases to some health plans for the seventh consecutive year. That means employees on certain plans will have part of their raise eaten up by health insurance costs. Overall, the district will spend about $35 million on health insurance contributions.

Representatives of district teachers associations criticized the board in public comments for not doing more to increase salaries or cover the rising costs of health insurance. El Paso Teachers Association President Norma De La Rosa said raises were not enough, especially for teachers at the top of the salary schedule who will receive "nothing or very little."

Ross Moore, president of the El Paso Federation of Teachers and Support Personnel, said a "brain drain" will take place because other school districts offer better salaries and stipends.

"You are not competitive in the local or state markets and you are quickly becoming the district of last resort," he said.

But board members in commenting on their budget and compensation plan, said they had approved the best option under the constraints of district revenues. Members chose the compensation package over a plan that would have awarded only a 1 percent average salary increase for teachers.

"Other districts are in areas that are growing. Houses are being built, children are coming, they are building new schools," said board member Blanca Enriquez. "We are not there anymore. So, we have to make the best of the circumstances that we have."

The district's final tax rate won't be approved until August, but the final approved budget requires the same $1.04 rate as the current year.

Andrew Kreighbaum may be reached at 546-6127.

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