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Scottsdale Schools approves 5% pay raise for employees

Posted 3/5/20

The Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board unanimously approved 5% pay raises for all SUSD employees for the 2020-21 school year at its March 3 special meeting.

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Scottsdale Schools approves 5% pay raise for employees

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The Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board unanimously approved 5% pay raises for all SUSD employees for the 2020-21 school year at its March 3 special meeting.

The salary increases total $6.4 million, with certified staff accounting for 68%, or $4.36 million, of that, according to a press release.

Twenty-two percent, or $1.44 million, of the total would go to increase the pay of classified staff, with the remaining 10%, or $645,000, going toward administrative salaries.

Starting teacher pay would increase from $43,400 to $44,702 a year and, through the use of pay-scale step increases, new separation would be created between the pay of first-year teachers and returning teachers.

The pay raises are part of SUSD’s proposed $174.1 million maintenance and operations budget for next school year, which the Governing Board tentatively approved at that same March 3 meeting.

The proposed budget also includes new funding of $763,850 to hire additional social workers and guidance counselors for SUSD schools with grades 6–12 and absorbs several such existing positions that are paid for through a grant that will expire at the end of the school year.

“With five of the seven Hanover Climate Survey recommendations from last fall requesting that we put more focus on social-emotional wellness, we want to show a major commitment to further improvements in this area,” Superintendent Dr. John Kriekard said in a prepared statement.

“Staffing is one aspect, but certainly not all we are doing in this very important area for our students’ health and well-being.”

Staff is undergoing intensive training this school year and next to be more equipped with knowledge to recognize students in need and help direct them to resources, a release states.

The proposed M&O budget also calls for the district to absorb an anticipated 6% increase in employee health insurance premiums.
Compensation and benefits play a key role in attracting and keeping SUSD employees, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Dr. Jed Bowman said.

“It is important for us to maintain our competitive advantage by being able to offer attractive salaries for all employee groups,” he said in a prepared statement. “That’s how we remain an employer of first choice in the Valley.”

The district expectos to issue teacher contracts for next school year within the coming days.

Over the past six years, SUSD has increased compensation for teachers:

  • In 2015-16, SUSD increased teacher pay by 3.5-5.5% using Proposition 123 funds with a graduated raise that depended on years of service.
  • In 2016-17, SUSD provided 2% pay raises for teachers.
  • In 2017-18, SUSD provided a 2% teacher salary increase.
  • In 2018-19, SUSD increased teacher pay by 10%.
  • In 2019-20, SUSD provided a 5% increase to teacher pay.
  • In 2020-21, SUSD will contribute $1 million in supplemental funding, in addition to that provided by Gov. Ducey’s 20% by 2020 plan, in order to give 5% raises to certified staff other than classroom teachers, such as school psychologists, occupational therapists and guidance counselors.

A public hearing and final approval of SUSD’s M&O 2020-21 budget is scheduled for June 23. The District’s Capital budget for the coming fiscal year will be on the Governing Board’s April 7 Special Meeting agenda for tentative approval.