Even though Frisco ISD voters rejected a tax rate increase for the 2017-18 school year, teachers will be seeing a little more money on their paychecks starting next week as raises were included in this year’s budget.

“The approved budget provides $7.8 million for staff raises and adjustments to teacher pay scales,” FISD’s website said. “Currently, Frisco ISD falls in the bottom 25 percent of area school districts for starting teacher salary. A 2 percent of midpoint pay raise and 2 percent one-time incentive payment will help FISD remain competitive in attracting and retaining the highest quality staff.”

In addition to increases in salary, the budget also approved $24.5 million to hire about 400 new campus members, and $3 million to increase district contributions to employee medical premiums, a positive factor for teachers.

“Teachers have kids too, and this increase helps us to be bigger providers for our families,” math teacher Lanae Rainey said. “Although this was a smaller increase, it’s helped my family to pay for things like orthodontic bills.”

Although teacher salaries may be frozen next year as a result of the projected $30 million budget shortfall, this year’s raise has helped the school be a place teachers want to work.

“This raise really benefits us in the attraction of new teachers,” Principal Scott Warstler said. “It allows us to be competitive with surrounding districts like Plano, McKinney, and Lewisville when we have those new teachers coming in. Now, regardless of a teacher’s level of experience they’ll receive similar pay or even more pay than they could’ve in a surrounding district, and that’s what makes Frisco that much more attractive.”