Leander ISD trustees closed out a tense week of budget talk by signing off on the district’s 2026-27 compensation plan while staring down a multimillion-dollar bus bill tied to a new state seat-belt law. The board approved a pay package that skips an across-the-board raise in favor of one-time retention payments, and district officials say there is no room in the general fund to upgrade dozens of older buses. A 70-member advisory committee is still sorting through potential projects for a possible November bond, and the district must file its formal seat-belt determination with the state by May 29.
Board Approves Compensation Plan
On May 7, trustees adopted the 2026-27 compensation plan, which includes a 0% general pay increase and instead leans on targeted market adjustments plus one-time retention payments of up to $1,000 for full-time employees and $500 for part-time staff, according to Leander ISD. The board also gave the superintendent authority to revise the plan later in the year if legislative decisions or budget shifts make changes necessary. District leaders said the recommendation is meant to keep Leander ISD competitive while protecting long-term fiscal stability.
CFAC Works Toward Potential Bond
The Citizens’ Facility Advisory Committee has been sorting through modernization and lifecycle-replacement needs that could feed into a bond proposal for a November 2026 election, as reported by Community Impact. Committee leaders told trustees the group includes about 70 members spread across six subcommittees and has already reviewed more than 90 project categories covering roughly 170 individual line items. Trustees have until Aug. 17 to officially call a November bond election, with additional discussion set for upcoming board meetings.
Seat-Belt Law Forces Tough Choices
The Texas Association of School Boards notes that trustees must hold a public report on school bus seat-belt costs, make a formal determination on whether compliance is feasible and submit documentation, including meeting minutes, before the reporting deadline, according to TASB. Many district leaders across Texas have described the requirement as an unfunded mandate and are pressing the Legislature or the Texas Education Agency for funding or relief, the Texas Tribune reported.
Legal note
According to the Texas Education Agency, districts must submit their estimated retrofit and replacement costs through the Sentinel portal by 11:59 p.m. on May 29, 2026, and TEA guidance spells out the inventory counts and cost estimates boards must present in a public meeting. The agency has also indicated there could be grant opportunities connected to the reporting, but it has not announced any program that would fully cover retrofit or replacement costs.
Price Tags And Options
Documents reviewed by Community Impact show Leander ISD operates a 318-bus fleet. Of those, 212 buses already have three-point belts, 79 general-education buses do not have three-point belts, and 27 special-education buses currently use two-point (lap) belts. District staff laid out two basic paths: retrofit the 106 noncompliant vehicles at roughly $30,000 to $45,000 each, with one retrofit scenario estimated at about $4.2 million, or purchase new buses at an estimated total of $18 million to meet the Sept. 1, 2029, compliance deadline. Officials told trustees that retrofitting could void manufacturer warranties and that a phased replacement plan, potentially tied to a bond package or staggered purchases, would likely be the more sustainable route.
Board materials and recommendations from the Citizens’ Facility Advisory Committee will guide whether the district pursues a bond this summer. At the same time, the May 29 reporting deadline on bus seat belts looms large and could influence what comes next as Leander ISD continues to refine its budget and facilities priorities.
