Manor ISD Announces Mental Health Days For Staff, Discusses Salary Increase Options
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Manor ISD leadership approved an initiative to further support the well-being of staff by introducing one mental health day per semester for staff members, beginning in the 2024-2025 academic year. The decision makes Manor ISD one of the first in Central Texas to formalize additional mental health support through specific leave days.
With the new policy, staff will receive two additional days off per academic year, dedicated solely to mental health. The days are in addition to the standard state and local leave days already granted to staff members, ensuring they have ample opportunity to prioritize their well-being without impacting their regular leave balances.
For part-time staff, they will receive a portion of time each semester that is equivalent to the percent of the day that they work. For example, if the employee is part-time and works only ½ days, the employee will receive two ½ days.
Staff are encouraged to review the complete guidelines for Mental Health Day Use.
“We understand that the well-being of our staff directly influences the success of our students,” Superintendent Dr. Robert Sormani said. “By adding dedicated mental health days, we are acknowledging the critical importance of mental wellness and offering our team the time they need to rest and rejuvenate, ensuring they can perform at their best both in the classroom and beyond."
The decision to implement mental health days was made to address the need for more robust mental health support, particularly in the wake of the challenges educators have faced during recent years, and to support staff by increasing compensation or other means.
“This is only the start of our discussions revolving around compensation and how we can provide other programs to support compensation for the next school year.” Dr. Sormani said. “The Board and I are continuing the discussion on May 20 to explore and potentially take action on options to provide our staff with compensation increases and support while remaining mindful of the budgeting challenges we face in 2024-2025.”
One option presented during the May 6 workshop would be to provide staff with a guaranteed 1% percent raise with the possibility of raising it by an additional 2% through holding and pending the approval of a Voter Approved Tax Rate Election (VATRE) during the general election on November 5, 2024.
If the VATRE is called for and approved, staff would receive a total salary increase of 3% of the midpoint.
A VATRE allows voters to approve or disapprove the tax rate adopted by the Board of Trustees. If called for and passed, it will allow Manor ISD to access the maximum amount of golden pennies, which would go towards:
- Increasing staff salaries by a total 3% of the midpoint,
- Increasing campus safety and security by funding salaries for new school police officers and equipment, and
- Increasing mental health support by funding salaries for new social workers and student programs.
If the VATRE is called for and approved, the projected tax rate for Manor ISD would be $1.0814 per taxable $100 for the 2024-2025 school year, which is lower than the district's $1.0861 tax rate for 2023-2024. The District would be able to achieve this tax rate due to the state lowering the maximum compressed tax rate during its 88th legislature session last year.
The Board will be considering salary increases for approval and continuing to explore options to call for a VATRE during their regular meeting on May 20.