Plano ISD is planning 2% minimum raises for staff and a $1,000 increase to starting salaries for new teachers in the 2026-27 school year.

PISD Chief of Employee Services Duana Kindle presented the district’s suggested compensation plan for the upcoming school year at a March 24 board of trustees meeting.

What you need to know: The new starting salary for PISD teachers will be $64,000, an increase from $63,000 in 2025-26.

Teacher starting salary increased by $2,000 ahead of last school year. The proposed 2% minimum salary increase is also less than the 3% raise put in place ahead of the 2025-26 school year.

“We don’t have the funds to really do anything more than that,” Kindle said. “We don’t want to fall so far behind that it becomes hard to catch up, but we also don’t want to jump so far out that it’s not sustainable.”

For nearly 30 years, Speedway Children’s Charities has had an impact on nonprofits in the region through various sporting events, most notably the annual NASCAR race weekend at Texas Motor Speedway.

That is the largest single-event fundraiser for the nonprofit, which provides aid to children in need in Tarrant, Collin, Denton and Dallas counties, said Marissa Chaney, executive director of Speedway Children's Charities' Texas chapter.

Zooming in: Last year, the Speedway Children’s Charities’ Texas chapter, or SCC-Texas, awarded $250,000 in grants to 37 nonprofits throughout the region. Chaney said there were 165 requests submitted, and the board of directors looked through each application. Chaney said the awards range from $5,000-$20,000, depending on the specific project requested, and are for a specific project rather than operational funds.

The details: Texas Motor Speedway will host a trio of races from May 1-3. A live auction, a legacy shop with memorabilia and a 50-50 raffle are all part of the fundraising efforts during race weekend.

• 3545 Lone Star Circle, Fort Worth

Plano ISD would need to spend up to $16.17 million to be in compliance with a new state law that requires three-point seat belts for every school bus passenger.

The gist: Senate Bill 546 was passed by the Texas Legislature in 2025 and requires that all school buses operated by the district must be equipped with three-point seatbelts for every passenger. The deadline for full compliance with the law is Sept. 1, 2029, but the state is requesting estimated costs from districts by the end of the current school year.

Of 314 total buses currently operating, Deputy Superintendent Johnny Hill said 216 are already up to code. The district has 79 buses without seatbelts and 19 with lap belts only.

Quote of note: “I think [the Texas Education Agency] is going to come to the same conclusion that every other school district in the state has come up with—that it's cost-prohibitive,” Hill said.

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Local farmers markets are now opening for the 2026 season. Here’s a list of some Dallas-Fort Worth markets to check out.

1. McKinney Farmers Market: The McKinney Farmers Market has been ranked the No.1 farmers market in the state for three years. Some market products include produce, flowers, glass, resin art, jellies and jams.

• 315 S.Chestnut St., McKinney
• Open Saturdays from 9 a.m.-noon

• 9215 John W. Elliott Drive, Frisco
• Open Saturdays from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sundays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

• 520 S. Main St., Ste. 203, Grapevine
• Open Monday-Saturday from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sundays 9 a.m.-6 p.m.