Lamar CISD Board Approves Increased Teacher Compensation and Pay Raises for 2026-2027

During the Lamar CISD June Board Meeting, the Board of Trustees passed a balanced district budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year totaling approximately $572.2 million, supported by the district's continued growth and ongoing residential and commercial development – including projected growth in property tax revenues of 4.49%. 

 

The approved budget includes a revised teacher pay scale that increases Lamar CISD’s teacher starting salary to $68,900, up $2,200 from the previous 2025-2026 school year. 

 

“Having highly qualified teachers in every Lamar CISD classroom is our number one staffing priority as a district,” Lamar CISD Superintendent Dr. Roosevelt Nivens said after the meeting. “Our Board of Trustees understands the value that great teachers bring to the classroom and to students’ lives, and I’m glad that we were able again this year to increase teacher pay across the board and keep our district competitive.” 

 

The approved budget also includes a 3% raise for all other district employees, calculated using the midpoint of each position’s salary range. In addition, trustees approved a proposal to increase the daily pay rate for retired certified teachers who return to the classroom as substitutes by $10 per day. 

 

“We work hard to keep the district’s budget balanced and to provide every opportunity for our students while also maintaining Lamar CISD’s ability to attract and retain the best teachers, administrators, and support staff employees possible,” Chief Financial Officer Greg Buchanan said. “We’re incredibly proud of the district’s reputation as an employer of choice for educators across the region, and we strive to offer pay and compensation packages in line with the high value we place on the amazing employees who serve our students.” 

 

Approximately 85% of the district’s 2026-2027 budget is dedicated to payroll, supporting increases in teacher positions and other campus-based employees to serve Lamar CISD’s expanding list of campuses and growing student population – expected to exceed 50,000 in the 2026-2027 school year, with more growth on the way according to current and long-range projections. 

 

Trustees also considered two proposed tax rate options for the 2026-2027 school year, which will be voted on in August. Both options would lower the tax rate for district residents while still allowing the district to manage current costs and pay down debt. The first option under consideration, $1.1351 per $100 of valuation, would represent a decrease of $0.0118 from the 2025-2026 rate of $1.14690, while the second option, $1.1451, would represent a $0.0018 decrease from the current rate. 

 

A recording of the presentation and discussion from the June 9 board meeting is available online.