For the 15th year in a row, College Station ISD has approved a compensation plan, increasing staff pay across the district. 

What’s changed: According to a May 21 news release from College Station ISD, the board of trustees approved a plan presented at the May 19 meeting.

The total cost of the compensation plan, which is a little more than $3.1 million, covers teachers, librarians, nurses, bus drivers, as well as percentage increases to different seniority pay grades.

The specifics: As released by College Station ISD, the specific increases are:

• Increased beginning teacher pay from $52,250 to $53,250
• $1,900 increase in salary for teachers, librarians and nurses
• 3% increase in midpoint pay grades for eligible paraprofessionals and auxiliary staff
• 3% increase in midpoint pay grades for eligible campus and central administrators and professionals
• $1.25 per hour pay increase for bus drivers
• Continuation of the Teacher Incentive Allotment

During the May 19 College Station ISD school board meeting, the district gave updates regarding construction projects at its various campuses.

What you need to know: College Station ISD is currently undertaking five major construction projects for school improvements and expansions, including work on two high schools and one elementary school, career and technical education expansions, and improvements to district stadiums. Funds are directed out of the 2023 and 2024 bonds.

At a glance: The projects are:

• A&M Consolidated High School: over 50,000 square feet of space added to the first and second floors, brand new facilities
• College Station High School: more than 100,000 square feet added, including new facilities, classrooms and repairs
• Rock Prairie Elementary School: around 4,000 square feet added with improvements and updates to infrastructure
• CTE Phase 2: various additions and updates that focus on career and technical education
• Stadiums: various additions and improvements made to recreational stadiums

Dozens of federal, state and local primary campaigns will come to a close May 26 as Texas voters cast ballots in the Republican and Democratic runoff elections.

How it works: Texas held its primary elections in March, with some races advancing to an overtime round, known as a runoff, after no single candidate picked up more than half of the vote.

On May 26, voters may see statewide offices, state legislative seats, redrawn congressional districts, the State Board of Education and county-level positions on their ballots. The winner of each runoff race will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot.

At the polls: Polling places across Texas will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. May 26. Voters in the following counties in Community Impact’s coverage areas can vote at any polling location within their county of residence: Bastrop, Bexar, Brazoria, Brazos, Collin, Comal, Fort Bend, Galveston, Guadalupe, Harris, Hays, Tarrant, Travis and Williamson.

Registered voters in other counties are required to visit a polling place specific to their voting precinct.

With hurricane season beginning June 1 and running through Nov. 30, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials are predicting the first below-average Atlantic hurricane season since 2015.

What you need to know: The latest NOAA forecasts are expecting residents along the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding areas to see a less active hurricane season than normal, with a 55% chance of a below-normal season, NOAA Administrator Neil Jacobs said at a May 21 news conference.

According to predictions, the NOAA is forecasting a range of eight to 14 named storms in the Atlantic Ocean with winds of 39 mph or higher, including:

• Three to six hurricanes with winds of 74 mph or higher
• One to three major hurricanes with winds of 111 mph or higher