HISD Salary Controversy

The HISD school board continues to haggle over the salary issue. The superintendent is holding firm with his 3% plus step proposal for teachers. Some members of the board seem intent on carving into that raise in order to increase funding for the PUA (per unit/student allocation). Only the member from District V seems sincere about getting more money to the schools. There is no doubt merit in sending money to schools in order to create programs that may treat the social and emotional needs of students but the money does not need to come from salaries. There are many areas (ASPIRE?) that can be cut to fund PUA. The superintendent made a strong argument fro both the percentage raise and the step. He rightly stated that there are already several compressed steps. Teachers spending two or three years on the same step does little for employee retention. He also produced maps showing the huge numbers of teachers who live in other districts and are currently driving into HISD. He argued that teachers can give themselves a large raise in gasoline savings just by teaching in the district they live. Every board member seemed impressed by the maps. I am cautiously optimistic that five votes exist to pass the proposed salary increase.