Canutillo ISD approves pay raises for teachers, other employees
EL PASO, Texas (CBS4) — Employees working for the Canutillo Independent School District will receive a pay raise next school year.
The Canutillo Independent School District Board of Trustees on Tuesday night approved a compensation package for the 2023-24 school year that includes a 5 percent salary increase for teachers and a 3 percent pay hike for all other employees.
Under the approved plan, which goes into effect in July, starting salary for teachers with zero years of experience increases to $60,000, a $4,000 increase from the current pay structure.
“We are happy to be able to provide this compensation package despite some of the financial uncertainties that Canutillo and other districts in Texas are currently facing,” said Superintendent Dr. Pedro Galaviz. “Our school board understands that in order to remain competitive in this market and retain and attract the best employees, we must do whatever we can to provide salaries that make an impact.”
Trustees also approved higher minimum salaries for school bus drivers, who will now earn $22 an hour.
The district said it is currently experiencing a shortage of bus drivers and must compete with neighboring districts to attract candidates.
Some parents said the pay increase will not be enough to attract and retain bus drivers.
"No especially with how inflation is now, $22 an hour is actually still low almost at the poverty level wage so they’re raising it but workers are still going to struggle," said a parent.
Also included in the compensation package are:
- An increase of the minimum hourly wage to $15.
- A $500 increase to the bilingual education certification stipend to $2,500.
- Stipend increases for varsity coaches in baseball, softball, volleyball and track.
- An alignment of salary midpoints to the El Paso market.
The total cost of the compensation package to the district is $3.6 million.
A Canutillo ISD spokesperson said by the end of the school year it will lose about half of its bus drivers. By the end of the summer, it will have ten bus drivers when it needs 19.
Parents said that concerns them.
"Not safe at all we need drivers, we need people that are appreciated for their work. We need these drivers to know that every day they come to work their appreciated," said a parent.
To view all job listings in the District and apply for employment, visit the CISD Jobline at www.canutillo-isd.org.
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