Houston ISD’s strategic plan includes teacher raises, librarians at all campuses

The Houston Independent School District plans to pay teachers more, re-imagine and expand its magnet options, and reorient how it communicates with families under a five-year strategic plan presented to the board of trustees Thursday. The financial aspects of the proposed plan will be detailed further when the district unveils its budget proposal in two weeks. Superintendent Millard House II told trustees parts of the plan, such as the compensation package, will start with the upcoming school year. In the immediate future, the district will offer current teachers signing bonuses if they commit to teach in the district for three years. The district also will offer signing incentives for new teacher hires; those with at least two years of experience who sign by April are expected to receive $5,000, and others would get $4,000. Teachers hired through August are expected to receive a $2,000 signing bonus.

Under baseline staffing, HISD officials plan to expand counseling services, and aim to ensure all campuses have a librarian or media specialist, nurse or associate nurse, art or music teacher and a wraparound specialist. Additionally, district officials said they will re-imagine how HISD communicates with families and parents, which will include hosting listening sessions in feeder patterns and the recent creation of an engagement office. The proposal does not include any school closures. House, in response to a question from Trustee Kendall Baker, reiterated Thursday that he had held no conversations about school closings, but cautioned that the district eventually will have to look at the future. House said the plan contained what administration officials thought were the best recommendations that considered relevant studies and feedback the district has been collecting. The district plans to seek more input about the plan. “I mean anything can change,” he said. “This is the beginning of the dialogue.”