Comal ISD trustees Thursday approved a three-percent pay increase for teachers and staff with the help of Texas House Bill (HB) 2, billed by the Texas Education Agency as a “comprehensive school finance bill that supports students and infuses more dollars and resources into Texas public schools than ever before.”
The compensation plan is part of the district’s $341 million budget for the 2025-26 school year.
Based on HB 2’s Teacher Retention Allotment (TRA), teachers with at least three to four years of experience will receive a salary increase of $2,500, and teachers with five or more years of experience will receive $5,000.
Teachers with less than three years of experience and other staff who do not qualify for the TRA get a three-percent pay increase.
“We value every member of the Comal ISD staff and the dedication they bring to shaping the future of our students,” Comal ISD Board President Russ Garner said in a statement issued by the district. “Recognizing their invaluable expertise and unwavering commitment, we felt it was essential to demonstrate just how much they are valued as the cornerstone of our mission to cultivate learners and achievers.”
However, Superintendent John Chapman said HB 2’s “unintended consequences” will significantly impact funding, specifically the district’s ability to cover mandated retention payments and accompanying payroll and retirement contributions.
The measure provided an additional $8.5 billion in funding for public schools, but Comal ISD is one of the few districts realizing an unexpected funding shortfall.
The district faces a $19 million deficit during the upcoming school year.
“We are actively working with the Texas Commissioner of Education to exercise his authority to modify the entitlement calculations through administrative rules, which would significantly reduce our budget deficit,” Chapman said.
The school board is expected to approve a Maintenance and Operations tax rate of $0.7369 at its August meeting.
