College Station ISD School Board Approves Health Insurance Rates, Discusses Pay Raises for the 2024-25 School Year

Health Insurance Rates Approved

In a recent meeting, the College Station ISD school board approved a six percent increase in the district’s health insurance contribution rates for the 2024-25 school year. The administration recommended this increase, which was endorsed by board members during their May 2024 regular session. Superintendent Tim Harkrider described this contribution as practically more than what other comparable districts offer. Recognizing the vital role of the employees in the district’s success, he urged them to assess the health insurance contribution in addition to their salary when considering their compensation.

Pay Raises Discussed

Pay raises were also a significant topic during this meeting. Amy Drozd, the chief financial officer, advised not altering the step increases for returning teachers, librarians, and nurses, estimating the cost of this decision to be $539,570. A further recommendation for a cost of living raise is set to be presented during the June session.

The superintendent stressed on the importance of the district’s staff, stating, “our most important resource is our teachers and staff members. And so, based on our current fund balance, I feel like the district needs to offer a pay raise.” The specifics of this proposed raise are still to be determined.

New Public Speaker Pre-registration Requirement

In a related development, the CSISD school board has now necessitated pre-registration for public speakers. This means that all intending speakers have to register by 10 a.m. a day prior to a board meeting. Superintendent Tim Harkrider reasoned that this would provide an opportunity for the administrators to familiarize speakers with the district’s policies and procedures in advance of the meetings.

Submitting Grievances and Complaints

Finally, it is worth noting that the CSISD Board of Trustees encourages concerned employees, students, parents, and patrons to air their grievances through informal conferences with the respective administrator. If the issue isn’t resolved satisfactorily, they can initiate the formal complaint process as outlined in the CSISD policies. This comes as the board and administrators also reviewed public comments critical of the district’s prevailing policies for complaints and grievances.