Navarro Independent School District

GERONIMO, TX — March 26, 2026 —  During its March meeting, the Navarro Independent School District Board of Trustees officially approved the 2026-27 Compensation Task Force recommendations, greenlighting a strategic investment in district staff that includes a general pay increase, boosted substitute rates, and enhanced employee benefits.

The approved plan was developed by a task force representing every campus and department in the district, from teachers and administrators to custodial, transportation, and child nutrition staff. The group met four times between October 2025 and February 2026 to analyze school finance, regional salary scales, and the specific needs of the district’s rapidly expanding student population.

Key Highlights of the 2026-27 Compensation Plan:

• 3% General Pay Increase: All district employees, including teachers, paraprofessionals, and support staff, will receive a 3% increase at the midpoint or mid-scale of their respective pay ranges. This represents a district investment of approximately $818,190.
• Substitute Pay Parity: To improve fill rates and quality of instruction, substitute teacher pay will increase by 5% to $105 per day. Additionally, substitute paraprofessional pay will jump from $85 to $105 per day, creating parity between the two roles.
• Retirement Accrued Leave Payout: The board approved an Accrued Leave Payout Policy to reward dedicated, long-term employees.
• Insurance Support: To shield employees from rising costs, the district will increase its contribution to employee health insurance, maintaining the current 74% coverage rate even as premiums are projected to rise between 5% and 15%.

The plan was designed to balance the need for competitive pay with the fiscal reality of a fast-growth district. While a 3% increase was selected, district leaders noted that every 1% in pay represents roughly $272,730—funds that are also needed to hire additional staff to keep pace with enrollment.

Dr. David Kauffman, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and School Leadership, emphasized that this plan is about more than just numbers; it is about valuing the people who make the district’s growth possible. He stated that the administration’s compensation plan proposal for 2026-2027 reflects guiding principles such as maintaining fair and competitive pay for all employee groups while balancing those increases with the need for more teachers to address fast enrollment growth. He further noted that the district aims to maintain a healthy budget that can absorb these increases and the necessary addition of new employees over time.