Lockhart ISD providing free school supplies for 2024-2025 school year

During its meeting earlier this week, the Lockhart Independent School District Board of Trustees approved its budget for the year -- which includes free school supplies for the 2024-2025 school year.

LOCKHART, Texas (KXAN) -- During its meeting earlier this week, the Lockhart Independent School District Board of Trustees approved its budget for the year -- which includes free school supplies for the 2024-2025 school year.

Those school supplies will are for all LISD students, the district said in a news release.

"This budget is a testament to the school board's commitment to providing the best possible education for our students and supporting our dedicated staff," Lockhart ISD Board President Michael Wright said in the release. "I am extremely proud that we prioritized employee compensation while also ensuring the budget is balanced."

The balanced budget for the district totals $85.9 million, and it also "includes a 12% increase to the instructional programs budget," according to LISD. In addition to the free school supplies, funds from the budget will go toward the "expansion of the Communities In Schools program to all campuses, $300,000 dedicated to fine arts programs, as well as $200,000 in additional investments to support special education, $265,000 for campus social workers, and a $130,000 investment to start an Early College High School program," the release said.

Furthermore, coaching stipends for Lockhart High School were included with a $35,000 increase. This is the first increase since the 2017-2018 school year, according to the district. Other investments tackled in the budget include support for academic intervention, school safety, curriculum, as well as instructional support for students, the release said.

In addition to the district's 2024-2025 Employee Compensation Plan, which was approved back in May, all other district employees will get a 3% pay increase "at the midpoint of their new pay scales for the 2024-2025 school year."

"Additionally, substitute teachers will receive a pay increase of up to 26% and up to 50% for substitute nurses district-wide," the district said.