May 25, 2022 News-Dispatch

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MAY 25, 2022 ROBOTICS TEAMS

GLOW SHOW

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News-Dispatch

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HaysNewsDispatch.com

Vol. 42 • No. 36

Serving Hays County, TX

DSISD approves pay raises, incentives BY MEGAN WEHRING

DRIPPING SPRINGS – As the cost of living continues to increase at a rapid rate, Dripping Springs ISD (DSISD) is increasing pay for staff. The DSISD Board of Trustees approved pay increases and onetime incentive payments for all district employees at its May 23 meeting. In addition, the board approved the district’s compensation plan for the upcoming school year. “The Board of Trustees is committed to recognizing the

exceptional work that our educators and district employees do every day to serve the students and families of DSISD,” said Dr. Mary Jane Hetrick, Board President. “We appreciate the administration’s work to come up with a compensation plan that they believe will help attract and retain talent while being judicious with taxpayer dollars. We were pleased to unanimously support the pay increases and incentive payments recommendations.” This only applies to returning permanent staff members, fulltime or part-time, who worked at least 90 days with the district this

year. The increases and incentives include:

General Pay Increase • 7% for Teaching staff (based on median teacher salary) • 7% for Auxiliary/Clerical hourly staff (based on pay grade midpoint) • 4% for Administrative/Professional staff (based on pay grade midpoint) • The adoption of a minimum $15 per hour wage for all hourly staff Retention Incentive Payment in September A lump-sum retention incen-

tive payment of $1,000 will be given to returning permanent employees (including longterm substitutes) who commit to return to work with the district for the 2022-2023 school year. The plan also included a recommendation of increasing the minimum hourly wage from $12 to $15 per hour – raising the pay for all hourly workers in the district. The approved raise will equate to $3,950 per teacher, plus $1,000 in the incentive payment, for a total of $4,950 per teacher. Other employee

raises vary by individual pay grade midpoints. The raises will go into effect in employees’ first 2022-2023 paycheck. “Dripping Springs ISD is a destination district for families and we want to work to ensure that it is a destination district as an employer, too. We want talented and innovative life-changers to come and work here and build their careers with us,” said Dr. Holly Morris-Kuentz, DSISD Superintendent. “I appreciate the board’s full support of the pay increase and incentives for our valued employees.”

GOT THE GOLD

DSHS senior competes at Deaflympics

DRIPPING SPRINGS – A local teen took the gold home from the Deaflympics. Faith Wylie, a senior at Dripping Springs High School (DSHS), captured the gold medal with the U.S. Deaf Soccer Women’s National Team on May 15. The Deaflympics took place May 1 through May 15 in Caxias do Sul, Brazil. The team is now working toward preparing for the Deaf World Cup in May 2023 in Korea.

At left: Keeping up with a long-standing tradition, athlete Faith Wylie tested her gold medal won at the Deaflympics in Brazil. Below: In the game against Japan, Faith Wylie scored the only goal leading to a 1-0 win.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF TAMARA JOYCE-WYLIE

Essential personnel

recognized in Dripping BY MEGAN WEHRING

PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF DRIPPING SPRINGS

Council member Geoffrey Tahuahua stands with local emergency medical services team members, recognizing that May 15 through May 22 is now proclaimed as Emergency Medical Services Week in Dripping Springs.

OPINIONS – Page 4

DRIPPING SPRINGS – It’s a nonstop job for emergency medical personnel. The Dripping Springs City Council proclaimed May 15 through May 22 as Emergency Medical Services Week – recognizing the teams that give back to their community daily. The council accredited that emergency medical services is a vital public service and the teams provide lifesaving care to those in need 24 hours a

The News-Dispatch Barton Publications, Inc. The News-Dispatch (USPS 011-401) published weekly by Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610. Periodicals postage paid at Buda, TX 78610 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610. ISSN#1087-9323

day, seven days a week. “Emergency medical services has grown to fill a gap providing important out of hospital care, including preventative medicine, follow-up care and access to telemedicine,” the proclamation reads. “The members of emergency medical services teams, whether career or volunteer, engage in thousands of hours of specialized training and continuing education to enhance their lifesaving

See DRIPPING, page 10


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