I feel frustrated and deeply disheartened that the support staff are being disregarded. All staff members are essential to student success. Many of us have dedicated decades to education, and the role we play is just as crucial for our students, especially as schools face growing academic and emotional challenges among students. When raises or benefits are allocated only to certain roles, it sends an unfortunate message that some contributions are more valued than others, which is not only unfair but also demoralizing. The distinction between "classroom teachers" and support staff overlooks the collaborative nature of education, where every role contributes to the overall learning environment and outcomes.

This is very frustrating, and at this point, I feel I am wasting my time responding because our voices don''t matter much. To not include high school counselors or any counselor in this pay increase is a slap in the face to counselors. Counselors are required to hold at least a masters degree. There are so many services counselors provide to not only students but also to staff, parents, and the communities. Counselors are often overlooked, underpaid, and undersupported. School counselors of all levels provide social/emotional counseling to all students. This means that in a school of 1000 students, two counselors will need to serve at least 500 students each. Texas law explicitly states that the primary responsibility of a school counselor is to counsel students, including their social and emotional needs. This is outlined in Texas Education Code sections 33.006 and 33.007. The social/emotional piece is only one part of a school counselor''s job. As a high school counselor, there are days where the social/emotional needs of our students will begin before 8:00 AM and last until 4:30 PM. There are several days, if not most, counselors only have time for a lunch break as a special treat because we are seeing students or helping at lunch duty. We also create and teach both classroom and small group lessons for students. We are also required by Texas law to provide students with information about higher education, including college, career, and military readiness. This is mandated by the Texas Education Code (TEC). Specifically, Section 33.007 of the TEC. This is not just exposing them to the material; it is meeting with each student, helping them complete FAFSA, college applications, providing plans for post-high school workplace experiences, etc. We also give students opportunities at college fairs, taking them to visit college campuses, and providing Texas Workforce opportunities. We also work many after-school hours. We spend time planning and hosting back-to-school meetings with parents and students, setting up and planning graduation ceremonies, scholarship nights, community outreaches, senior nights, and financial aid nights, to name a few. Counselors also create schedules for all students and provide input or create master schedules. This is very time-consuming. We also meet with all new students, arrange for them to tour the campuses, and follow up with students to make sure they are doing ok with their new change. On top of all of the above, we also help with testing, behavioral threat assessments, Section 504 meetings, ARD meetings, and credit recovery. It is not just the meetings that we attend, but we also have the paperwork that goes along with it. Speaking of Section 504, counselors are usually in charge of planning, the paperwork, and holding each Section 504 meeting. Each meeting is about 30-45 minutes long, and the paperwork for both the preparation and post-meeting combined is about an hour at minimum. The meetings require gathering data from teachers, sending out paperwork to the parents, typing results of data in the computer, setting up the meetings, holding the meetings, typing the plan as a result of the meetings, mailing copies to parents/guardians, getting new plans to teaches, and filing. We are also in charge of collecting items for Christmas, providing food, clothes, personal hygiene products, school supplies, etc. for those that are homeless, in need, etc. We also help with providing resources to help with items we are not able to provide. I spent my first 18 years in education as an English classroom teacher. I didn''t have as many requirements and paperwork as I do now as a high school counselor. I love my job and what it means to my students, parents, community, and staff. However, seeing that our government officials do not see the importance of what counselors do, makes me rethink going back to the classroom. I have spent the past eight years counseling students and providing them with the services I have mentioned. We are paid as "teachers pay" but not worthy of a raise? What would happen if all counselors resigned to go back to the classroom because it pays more for a bachelors degree with little experience than a counselor with 26 years of experience with a masters degree? There would be chaos. I ask for all school counselors to be definitely considered in the raises that everyone else will or should be receiving. Look at counselors for the value and worth we are.

Smaller districts get a higher pay increase, while larger districts with over sized classes get less? A teacher with 20 kids but 10 years experience gets 10k, but a teacher with 38 kids and 15 years gets 5,500? How does this even make sense? Clearly you see who has to work the hardest. Why not make it equal across the board? I challenge these decisions makers that have NEVER taught in the public school system to go sub in a school for 1 week. Step ina teacher''s shoes, and not in one of these affluent areas. A stripper gets more respect than an educator, which is why the educational system is failing. The school administration and district officers are making 6 figures, but they get to sit in offices and receive bonuses on how much they saved the district by not providing students with needed resources.

I just want to make something very clear... The Voucher System IS GEARED at giving rich people money for education that they already pay for and can afford. Our President is trying to dismantle our Democracy, if you have not noticed that, well you better open your eyes. And, on the topic of teachers, we ALWAYS get shafted by our Texas Government. If we weren''t, those Billions of dollars being held up by our greedy and senseless governor of Texas have hurt tremendously. Now, I have read on what our government has said about the student allotment for public school students being $350 per student in public school and $10,000 for students in private or charter schools. Does that sound right to you? And as far as the students and their respect for others, that is not a school issue, that is a home issue; please do not put that on us teachers. We can solve all of these issues very easily. Pass a law that requires our government to have time limits on the number of years they can serve. We need some fresh ideas and support from people who care about people as a whole, not the old dog in the chamber that has nothing new to offer. If you have not watched the TV screen lately, "we the people" are protesting and we WON''T STOP until this whole mess is cleaned up!

I just wanted to point out how delusional Earline Jackson is in the previous comments. School educators are getting LOTS of focus this session, including $134 BILLION in funding and you''re still on the $1 billion allocated to school vouchers? Get off the demmy-train and open your eyes, spend a few minutes reading these proposed bills and you tell me exactly how our public educators are getting shafted? Our education system is broken, including the lack of discipline and respect FROM YOUR KIDS in our public schools. This is why many (such as myself, who also by the way works at a public school as a non-teacher who is also not part of this proposed raise) sends my kids to a private school. Also, our President is NOT trying to eliminate SS and Medicare, once again you are completely delusional and believe only what CNN tells you. Just because they''re getting rid of the hundreds of thousands of ILLEGALS and PEOPLE OVER 110+ YEARS OLD doesn''t mean he''s getting rid of those programs. They''ve come right out and have squashed this rumor many times. People like you are ruining our country and directly contribute to the problem in our education system as well.

There should be something for the support staff! My wife works in a high school Registrar''s office and got a 1% raise last year. I beg her to quit her job multiple times a year. After 12 years of working as a Registrar or Asst. Registrar; I just do not believe the school district values their support staff for the work they provide.

"The bill does not include raises for other educators, including counselors, school nurses, librarians, classroom aides, and other support staff." Legislators are penny pinching as it takes all ISD staff to educate children and keep them safe and cared for while at school. This is disrespectful and communicates a continued and intentional lack of concern for public educators and students.

I have been in the classroom for 26 years. Last year I moved to 504/AI/RTI Coordinator and tutor math groups for 3 hours every morning. I work as hard now as I ever have. The fact that I wouldn''t get the raise at this point is very unfair. I believe this needs to be reconsidered. Also, how are the districts going to fund it once the state quits? The smaller districts are struggling as it is or they would already be paying these higher salaries? The pay raise itself is much needed. I have several friends (new to teaching) who left the profession to seek a career that pays better. But the decision makers need to get out into the schools, both large and small districts, and gather more information before making the decisions as to how this is going to work.

Do away with the TIA bias money and just give teachers and support staff (paras) the $10,000 raise!!! ALL teachers deserve the raise for all of the hard work and disrespect they have to deal with daily and are not recognized! I work in a district that is Central Office heavy and teachers haven''t gotten a raise in 3 years, but all of the CO makes double what teachers do!

I am disappointed in our governor showing more compassion for the rich and wealthy, than for the middle class where we are being taxed heavier and given less. He and his elected President are favoring the wealthy. He wants vouchers for people capable of paying their own tuitions but, ripping off public education to help fund country club private and charter schools. His partner is doing everything to dismantle Social Security and Medicare and the people thought he genuinely cared to reduce the inflation. You have been dupped and hoodwink by both of them. Watch how Public Schools are going to suffer irregardless of what you are being told and sold. Watch inflation run rampant, and you social services squandered away before your very eyes. After having said all of that, those are some of the reasons they are not interested in what you do and could care less how much give to the schools.in support. Their hearts are not for you or with you. Some of you voted for both of them, and they are going to ride into the sunset and leave you behind.

Support staff is essential to all schools. Who’s going to do scheduling, counseling, check on the sick, cook meals for the students, clean the cafeteria, clean the kitchen, clean the classrooms, or clean the restrooms. Without the support staff the school would be a hot mess. This bill needs to be reviewed again and make an huge adjustment to include a substantial pay increase to support staff as well because we are very significant to the running of the school too. Billions of dollars and you act as if we are taking money out of individual pockets. Abbott has held on to billions of dollars just because he is strictly focused on school vouchers. Shame on him and all the greedy legislators who don’t care for all educators like they should. Maybe holding on to federal funds for personal gain or because things aren’t going your way is the reason why other nations are ahead of us. Thinking out loud! We are all an integral part of the puzzle……

How can we leave out our support staff members? I know how hard they work, and they deserve recognition and higher pay. Schools are not just made up of teachers. Anyone that works with our students is an educator!

Indeed, counselors and all support staff keep our schools running efficiently and and our students safe and cared for. The legislature has fallen into a pattern of only looking at teachers (who are definitely worthy) and not looking at the countless others that a district will not be able to afford to give raises to. Also, having been a Special Educator for 36 years, the rubrics to determine if my students were making the progress necessary for increased pay was a joke. I occasionally got a stipend because it was difficult to get a special educator, but not for how my students improved (which they did.))

Clerks, IA’s, & support staff are crucial to teacher & students success! We do 3 -4 people’s jobs with hourly pay less than $19. We deserve pay increases too!

Why are Counselors not included??

This pay raise sounds like a bait and switch. State fund the raise temporarily and then the burden falls on the district to fund it.