The Whitney Independent School District Board of Trustees met in regular session Monday, August 11.
Assistant Superintendent Amy Leech presented an update on the district’s anticipated adoption of the Teacher Incentive Allotment, a program designed to promote the profession of teaching in Texas by providing a path to higher incomes for educators through a system in which they attain one of three levels of designation: “Recognized,” “Exemplary” and “Master.”
Through the TIA, an educator can obtain funds to be allotted to the district according to their designation. Once achieved, a designation will be valid for five school years.
These funds range from $3,000 at the least to $32,000 at most per designated teacher; districts which are deemed to be rural or higher need receive more funding from the program. For WISD specifically, the following projections were made: $6,842 for Recognized educators; $13,685 for Exemplary educators; and $24,808 for Master educators.
Ninety percent of funds generated through the TIA program must be used to compensate educators, while 10% may be used for costs associated with supporting a local designation system or to support educators in obtaining designations.
In 2023-24, the program encompassed 597 school districts and 26,989 teachers, with approximately $292 million in funds distributed throughout the state. WISD is currently in the second year of a three-year approval process, during which time the district will capture data on student growth and teacher observations to be submitted to Texas Tech University, working in conjunction with the Texas Education Agency, in the following year.
Director of State and Federal Programs Melissa Marbut presented preliminary projections for the district’s annual Academic Accountability Ratings from the TEA. The rating system is based on student performance, graduation rates, and readiness outcomes for careers, college and the military. See accompanying story for more information.
Two bids for property in the White Bluff area were approved, as well as the district’s payment of the retainer fee to Eichelbaum, Wardell, Hansen, Powell & Munoz, P.C. for the 2025-26 school year.
Also approved were property, automotive, unemployment and worker’s compensation coverage for the 2025-26 school year through the Texas Association of School Boards Risk Fund; new guardians throughout the district; and a minor budget amendment.
The employee compensation package for 2025-26 was approved. The pay scales and stipend list are publicly available in full at whitneyisd.org.
Amy Teal spoke in open forum, where she accused the district of violating the law by planning a drawing for a free Chromebook laptop.
Enrollment stands at 1,454.
The Lakelander 