TEMPE, Ariz. — The Kyrene School District Governing Board has approved granting salary raises for teachers after the district spent the past year making drastic budget decisions to adjust to shrinking enrollment.
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During a meeting on May 12, the board granted a 4% raise for certified staff and a 2% raise for administrators and education support professionals. The board additionally approved $1,000 retention stipends for staff.
District officials said the salary raises were possible “in part due to strategic long-term financial planning, including savings realized through school consolidation efforts.”
A few months ago, the district voted to close six schools due to declining enrollment. Kyrene’s student population has dropped over the years from 20,000 students down to about 12,000.
Since Kyrene has fewer job positions to fill this coming school year, the district was able to reinvest funds into employee salaries.
The salary schedules for psychologists, speech and language pathologists and occupational therapists were also updated by the district to have them more aligned with the current market.
During the May 12 meeting, the board approved a contract extension for Superintendent Laura Toenjes to continue leading the district until 2029. The contract pays the superintendent a base salary of $222,200, which is about the same as the base salary in the the superintendent’s agreement from 2024.
The district said Toenjes asked to remain at her current pay rate and not receive an increase.
*Editor’s Note: The above video is from an earlier broadcast.*
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