During the Aubrey ISD School Board Meeting, a new budget for the 2025-26 school year was approved.
Some changes include that teachers with no prior experience will now receive a base payment of $55,000; returning teachers between steps one through four in their earning stages will receive the minimum increased pay of $2,500; and teachers at step five and above will receive a minimum pay increase of $5,000.
“We build the budget based on anticipated needs,” said Eric Hough, Aubrey ISD assistant superintendent of business and operations. “We build it to be functional and flexible, and we planned for additional campus growth.”
The board also approved changes to the tax rate.
Hough simplified it.
“It's a 3% drop, almost to 4% decrease, in our [maintenance and operations] tax rate.”
Also in the meeting, senior Addison Pierce from Aubrey High School spoke at the podium to address her concerns regarding a lack of communication about the changes to the dual credit program.
“Last year we were on campus, and this year it changed to off campus, meaning we would have to do that outside of school,” she said. “… But there was no clarification and no communication from anyone from the school or school district about that change.”
Pierce also explained how this change to the system could interfere with after-school extracurricular activities.
Another senior from AHS, Jonathan Story, expressed his frustration with the parking situation.
“Excuse my language when I say this, but I have the crappiest parking spot, and I mean it literally as there are two porta potties on my assigned parking spot,” he said. “… And there is no senior parking this year, either.”
Story also mentioned the mixed messages he has heard about parking, and he worries how this will impact safety for both students and parents.
“There are other contradictions about the parking lot right now,” Story said. “The parents are driving through it. … I see them coming from the front of the building and from the back ... and it causes a lot of confusion.”
Members of the school board acknowledged the problems with parking and parent drop-off and pick-up, and they said they are seeking solutions to resolve these issues.
Teachers recognized as the 2024-25 Teachers of the Year include Angela Lee, K-5 music teacher at Monaco Elementary School, and Renae Leyba, math resource teacher at AHS.
They both represented Audrey ISD at the Region 11 banquet, where Lee won the 2025 Region 11 Elementary Teacher of the Year.
She will move forward to the state level to compete for the Texas Teacher of the Year award on Oct. 16-17.
