THRALL — Thrall Independent School District trustees increased benefits and approved salary increases for teachers and nonteaching staff for the 2025-26 school year.
Teacher raises have been a hot topic this legislative session, but the suspense ended on June 4 when Gov. Greg Abbott signed House Bill 2, commonly called the “teacher pay raise” bill.
Thrall ISD has less than 1,000 students and, according to HB 2, qualifies for an $8,000 pay increase to teachers with more than five years’ experience and a $4,000 raise to teachers with three to four years’ experience.
School board members during the June meeting also approved an additional $3,000 stipend for secondary core-content teachers and a 3% increase in salaries for custodians, food service, maintenance and instructional staff.
The school district pumped up its benefits, including a $500 per month increase in employee health insurance contributions; a $30,000 life insurance plan; and free prekindergarten programs for 3-year-olds and staff children under 6.
Trustees also authorized the payout of personal leave days for retiring teachers who have worked in the district for more than 15 years.
Thrall ISD will pay a $125 per diem for up to 50 accumulated statepaid personal leave days.
Jolena Pokorny, director of programs, said it is often harder for educators to claim a personal day than it is to remain in the classroom, yet these teachers had essentially been penalized for not choosing a day off and lost both time and money.
This change had an impact on a retiring teacher, the director said.
When the educator learned she would be paid for her state days, “She was in tears. It meant that much to her,” Pokorny said.
Superintendent Tommy Hooker added it was not the money so much as the principle behind the benefit.
“Everyone wants to be recognized for their dedication and hard work,” Hooker said.
The board convenes the next meeting 6:30 p.m. Aug. 20 at 601 S. Bounds St.
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Everyone wants to be recognized for their dedication and hard work.”
— Tommy Hooker, Thrall ISD superintendent
