Southlake Carroll teachers who rarely call in sick could soon see their good attendance pay off, while anyone eyeing a long weekend around school holidays may have to think twice.
At Monday's meeting, the Carroll ISD board signed off on a package of attendance incentives and new "blackout days" that will change how staff can use discretionary time off during the 2026–27 school year. The plan sets up a buyback that pays $110 per unused local leave day, up to five days, plus September payments to staff who return to the district, and a retirement buyback that would pay 50% of an employee's daily rate for up to 50 unused state leave days. To qualify for the retirement payout, employees would need to spend their final five years with Carroll ISD and maintain at least a 98% attendance rate during their last three years. District leaders say the moves are aimed at keeping teachers in classrooms on high-impact days and cutting down on substitute costs.
Which Days Become Blackout Days?
Under the approved plan, certain high-demand dates are effectively off-limits for discretionary leave. Blackout days include the last workday before a school holiday, the first workday after a school holiday, staff development or early-release days, and testing days such as state assessments and end-of-semester exams.
If an employee uses discretionary leave on those blackout dates, the policy would dock their day rate. The district carved out exceptions for major family events, including funerals, births, weddings and similar milestones. The full schedule and list of exceptions appear in the district's compensation and calendar presentation to trustees, according to Carroll ISD documents.
How the Buyback and Pay Timing Work
The buyback would pay $110 per unused local leave day (equal to the district's substitute rate) for up to five unused local days. When an absence occurs, local leave would be used up before any state leave kicks in. According to a district presentation summarized by Community Impact, buyback payments will be issued in September and are payable only to staff who return to Carroll ISD for the new school year.
Retirement Buyback: Who Gets What and When
The retirement incentive would pay 50% of an employee's current daily rate for up to 50 accumulated state leave days. The program is proposed to take effect in June 2028 and then be offered annually. To be eligible, employees must complete their final five years with Carroll ISD and maintain a 98% attendance rate during their final three years.
District examples show that an average retiring teacher who maximizes the benefit could receive roughly $10,000. The structure and sample payouts are detailed in the district's presentation to trustees, according to Carroll ISD documents.
Why Trustees Backed the Plan
District leaders told trustees the incentives are designed to keep classrooms stable on key instructional days while tamping down the district's hefty substitute tab. Superintendent Jeremy Glenn boiled the goal down to a simple idea: keeping teachers in front of students. "We want our teachers to be in the classroom," he said, according to Community Impact.
The board's April 20 recap confirms trustees approved the 2026–27 compensation plan and the new attendance incentives, including blackout days and the leave buybacks, according to Carroll ISD meeting materials.
