UISD tables compensation vote after teachers push back on proposed cuts

United Independent School District tabled a vote on its 2026-27 compensation plan after teachers and some trustees pushed back on proposed reductions in stipends, extra-duty pay and contract days.

The decision came at a special board meeting on June 11, after the district had already publicly discussed the compensation proposal two days earlier. UISD said it still needs savings to help address a budget shortfall and must notify employees of compensation changes by June 28.

What the board delayed

The compensation plan included several possible savings scenarios, ranging from about $2.42 million to $3.30 million depending on how many extra-day stipend and contract-day reductions were adopted. Most of the savings would have come from monthly stipend reductions totaling $1,985,500.

The proposal also contemplated reducing extra-day stipends by one, two or three days. The planned savings by day included $37,698 from 101 facilitator and lead teacher positions, $64,580 from 188 athletics positions, $37,631 from 74 fine arts positions and $3,293 from 10 CTE teachers.

UISD’s proposed salary schedule for 2026-27 would have set base pay at $53,000 for uncertified teachers with no creditable experience and $72,482 for teachers with 30 years of experience. Compared with the prior year, the proposed schedule represented reductions of about $100 to $636 depending on experience level.

Why teachers objected

Teachers who attended the meeting criticized the plan as unfair, arguing that most of the burden would fall on classroom staff and on employees who receive stipends for extra duties. The proposal would have affected teachers, coaches, facilitators, fine arts staff and other employees tied to stipend-based pay.

Board members Dianelle Martinez and Michelle Molina also raised concerns about the impact on lower-paid employees and frontline staff. Their comments echoed the broader concern that the district should not place most of the cuts on people closest to students.

UISD’s budget context

The district has been dealing with a budget deficit and has discussed other cost-cutting measures in recent months, including school consolidations and payroll reductions. UISD has said the compensation proposal is part of that larger effort to close the gap without deeper operational cuts.

In an earlier June 9 article, the district said rumors of large teacher salary reductions were inaccurate and stressed that the Teacher Incentive Allotment was not part of the proposed compensation plan. UISD also said the board would vote in public and does not make compensation decisions behind closed doors.

What happens next

The board is expected to take up the compensation item again at its June 17 meeting. That leaves only days before the June 28 deadline to notify employees of changes to compensation for the next school year.

Trustees could return with a revised salary schedule, a different mix of stipend reductions or a new approach that shifts more of the burden away from classroom staff and toward other budget lines. For now, the delay keeps the district searching for a way to save money without worsening tensions with employees.