After the Texas Legislature’s 2025 session approved the state’s first major boost in public school funding since before the COVID-19 pandemic, Lamar CISD will combine local funds with the new state funding to increase salaries for all district teachers for the 2025-2026 school year. 

House Bill 2, signed into law on June 20 by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, included funding for a teacher retention allotment designed to support Texas public schools in attracting and retaining highly qualified classroom educators, with special emphasis given to increasing the salaries of experienced teachers. 

“Our teachers are the lifeblood of everything we do in Lamar CISD,” Superintendent Dr. Roosevelt Nivens said. “We applaud the passage of this new funding for public education, and we’re also excited that our trustees have chosen to go above and beyond what the legislation requires and increase salaries across the board for those who have the biggest single impact on student success in our schools and classrooms.” 

In addition to a flat $2,000 salary increase going to all teachers, the Lamar CISD Board of Trustees also approved the following scaled increases for Lamar CISD classroom teachers in the 2025-2026 academic year, including an increase for newer teachers not directly mandated by the recently passed law: 

• An additional $1,000 for all classroom teachers with one to two years of experience 
• An additional $2,500 for all classroom teachers with three to four years of experience, who are eligible for the State Teacher Retention Allotment 
• An additional $5,000 for all classroom teachers with five or more years of experience, who are eligible for the State Teacher Retention Allotment

In May, the school board raised the new teacher starting salary to $65,700. With the additional $1,000 approved during the June board meeting, the new teacher starting salary is now $66,700. 

“In Lamar CISD, we value our outstanding educators, and we’re proud to have offered regular teacher raises in recent years to ensure a competitive compensation package for these highly trained professionals,” Deputy Superintendent of Human Resources Alphonso Bates said. “Heading into the new school year, we’re grateful to the Texas Legislature for lending its support and additional state funding so we can go even further in providing classroom teacher raises.” 

District teachers will all receive the $2,000 across-the-board salary increase beginning with the August 15 paycheck, while the additional raises supported by the state’s legislative action will go into effect on paychecks issued September 15 and following. Teachers will also receive individual salary letters informing them of the pay increases.