[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6609955,"mediaKeyId","2905176-cb540e6626c0221d5b775ba1d8e9b27d","parentId",2905176,"title","Gilbert Public Schools reports 73.2% of spending in classrooms; audit data and teacher-salary measures vary","audioSeconds",1749,"startMs",2731000,"endMs",4480000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2905176-cb540e6626c0221d5b775ba1d8e9b27d&start=2731&end=4480","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2905176-cb540e6626c0221d5b775ba1d8e9b27d/thumbnail_2731000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6609955/Arizona/Gilbert-Public-Schools-reports-732-of-spending-in-classrooms-audit-data-and-teacher-salary-measures-vary","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6609955-96b79290199006b80351c0db2a16f982/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437877&Signature=gVqQ-Ea1bVt2lZp-bnhdsJa-o8D-GfcVJkXVEuHGireQRtZmN8GxzdPp-DRQeZxfHEGZWwaV9diKFu3-rtxO9nD5zk0LGESEP9p3besRY~9itRZDUxD5vXyVQup8nUrIT9Kwv8em0RR6BOkEuG741EFtthzIyKLY9CKg2YqqGKQ-HsuxLPzstbju1hUTetdbJ6I2316pzB9YXRxvRF7N~JuE4Ax0yBacMKN8x5leqAoSojAyUTYfCx~8BpWG3Vr2lyjLMgd1BLGPdgFSwblwfAbBX3sv58EqM1Ov5m5kjb~kN~JwroKWTswTGVPmyDOZ1Tsj5KLNP6dReD0neEzufQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Gilbert Unified District (4239)","date","2025-04-09T02:25:43.01Z","article","GILBERT, Ariz. — Gilbert Public Schools officials told the district governing board that the Auditor General’s FY2024 district spending report shows 73.2% of operational spending in classroom functions and administration at about 8.2%, and explained why published average teacher-salary figures can differ.

The presentation, led by Jackie Matinen, director of finance, and introduced by district business staff, summarized FY2024 operational-area spending and compared Gilbert’s results with neighboring districts and a peer group of large districts. Matinen said instruction—defined in the district’s account code structure as functions in the 1000 series—was 58.9% and student support an additional 9.6%, yielding 73.2% classroom-related spending overall.

The report matters because the Auditor General’s district spending report is widely cited by state policymakers and media, Matinen said. “If that percentage ever dropped precipitously, we might be concerned about how the dollars in the classroom come out,” she told the board.

Board members and staff noted two main caveats. First, Gilbert’s locally published Annual Comprehensive Financial Report uses a government-wide accounting basis and includes items such as interest on long-term debt and depreciation; the Auditor General’s district spending report uses a different fund and function mapping, which can change percentages for instruction and administration. Second, average teacher-salary calculations vary because districts used different coding practices in 2023–24; Gilbert reported an average teacher salary of $67,000 on its AFR (including stipends), a $64,000 figure for base pay excluding stipends, while the Auditor General’s district-spending calculation produced about $63,000. Matinen and other staff advised caution when comparing single-year numbers across districts because mandated uniform account coding only took effect after the 2024 reporting period.

Staff also described an accounting error that inflated reported transportation spending: maintenance and operating charges for the district’s “white fleet” (nonroute vehicles) had been posted to the student-transportation function (2700) rather than to the appropriate functions for special programs and operations. The finance team said they have corrected the coding and expect the 2025 report to reflect that change.

Comparisons with neighboring districts showed Gilbert at or above peer averages for classroom spending and at the low end for administration and plant operations. Matinen highlighted that Gilbert’s administration percentage matches Mesa’s despite Mesa being nearly double Gilbert’s size—an outcome she described as an efficiency signal rather than a direct pay comparison.

Board members asked for multi-year trend reporting, per-school schedules, and historical context stretching back to 2015–2016 so trustees can see the fiscal impact of past overrides and bond measures. Matinen and staff agreed to prepare expanded trend materials and per-school schedules upon request.

The board’s discussion preceded a separate budget presentation and did not include a vote. The district’s finance staff emphasized that while the FY2024 district spending report offers a useful snapshot, differences in account-coding practice and one-time items mean multi-year and detailed local schedules are necessary for accurate comparisons.

Matinen closed by reiterating that some published statewide averages may be misleading until uniform coding is fully adopted and validated across districts; staff expect greater confidence in cross-district comparisons with 2025 data.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Gilbert Public Schools Board Meeting 4/8/2025","oneSentenceSummary","GILBERT, Ariz. — Gilbert Public Schools officials told the district governing board that the Auditor General’s FY2024 district spending report shows 73.2% of operational spending in classroom functions and administration at about 8.2%, and explained why published average teacher-salary figures can differ.","taxTitle","Gilbert Unified District (4239), School Districts, Arizona","taxId",12981,"location","Arizona","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6609946,"Board appoints principal for Canyon Valley; brief remarks from appointee",190,6270000,6460000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2905176-cb540e6626c0221d5b775ba1d8e9b27d&start=6270&end=6460","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2905176-cb540e6626c0221d5b775ba1d8e9b27d/thumbnail_6270000.jpg","/articles/6609946/Arizona/Board-appoints-principal-for-Canyon-Valley-brief-remarks-from-appointee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6609946-2731718db3191fbbf5ee6774398d4ebd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437877&Signature=Jd7QMUi4MSGaJCYF~8hjd7MwX4AypwIXmC1j-NMmT7npmFlcrco~BKifag3dVUdfqqEz8t-UYPRJg7N9hUZ~9m8e4CfZv9qbtYf0IMYAWNTas~RA0vFYuB-cm-o4iJLdXlb9anojMu7RyYi29tMzAZyF7uejQfaHsdyfmjpv1FFFC69ZirDZl0pYznLC~oqTxjabVzF6Kw~KSLJnfB9eVCSRW2zPeb6VVSpI-MSHjiEZBOVx3XVVXwfQwiN-bTW4p~vEIyAlajc5SBRwiyT5fx1qYqJunPJRvD0c2O6AecfoJs-oRE0w7UJyTKsM8jKs6tpPsGIJq5xdvh-zxBtPUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","GILBERT, Ariz. — The Gilbert Unified School District governing board appointed Adam Strak as principal of Canyon Valley for the 2025–26 school year and invited him to address trustees following the vote.

Trustee Jill Humphreys moved to appoint Adam Strak; Shana Murray seconded. The board voted “aye” and the motion carried. After the vote, the board invited the appointee to speak briefly. He thanked his family and said he looked forward to serving Canyon Valley’s students and families.

During discussion prior to the vote, trustees who had met the candidate described him as instilling confidence; Dr. Blake Robeson said he was “very impressed and frankly inspired to be a better board member and a better father,” and trustees expressed optimism about the school’s future under the new principal.

The board recessed briefly after the appointment to offer congratulations. No policy or contract details beyond the appointment motion were discussed in public session.","Board approved appointment of Adam Strak as Canyon Valley principal for 2025–26; motion passed by voice vote and the appointee addressed trustees and guests.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6609950,"Gilbert board backs recommended 2% pay increase for FY2026; budget presentation balances ADM losses and new FTEs",1664,4456000,6120000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2905176-cb540e6626c0221d5b775ba1d8e9b27d&start=4456&end=6120","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2905176-cb540e6626c0221d5b775ba1d8e9b27d/thumbnail_4456000.jpg","/articles/6609950/Arizona/Gilbert-board-backs-recommended-2-pay-increase-for-FY2026-budget-presentation-balances-ADM-losses-and-new-FTEs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6609950-79c6b2b8994ad5fd83c51d2cf778050e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437877&Signature=fHxUoRIG8cuAiMGpGoW5FaKmqPMWUzJ0w0-Pfo51Vzwg3C0-B6~oV6VPTDXPHGy0aZvdoY12ir1FqbIuC-gpomAPF4VnVstrI62~6Ro1he53pYn9H8Ami428Jz0FZNtvW9ktq4~s4Wpbf~qTqRTZPNtBAZd8ObxhXaPigNKKr-5w8uwmxjzouBjzn7jH8woK66mZj1~E2hWIK-6DNTXZMRcEQePb8C2Uq7~BTq2K-Q~EbTUttUaWmOk0dzoUcbC040vxI963s3hgfqgv~Z4L98zHmotVsA9YlPszo-pz~6RUTmoaLRn2w1kw896iVJOyJh1AgkX6ohZRKw0yHCEcKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","GILBERT, Ariz. — The Gilbert Unified School District governing board voted unanimously to approve a recommended 2% pay increase for fiscal year 2026 after hearing a preliminary-budget presentation that balanced projected enrollment declines, targeted staffing increases, and funding uncertainties from the state.

During a work-study presentation, district leaders recommended a 2% across-the-board pay increase for employees and proposed targeted increases in FTE for gifted and English learner teachers. The staff presentation said the district used a conservative projection of a 1,300 average daily membership (ADM) decline for FY2026, which reduces weighted student counts and revenue capacity. Superintendent and finance staff emphasized remaining legislative uncertainty, including whether the governor’s proposed 2% base increase and related proposals would be adopted by the Legislature.

Under the district’s recommendation, classroom-site funds would finance a substantial share of teacher pay increases (classroom-site allocations rose by $50 per student in the recent state calculation), enterprise programs (community education and nutrition services) would fund their own hourly-pay increases, and maintenance-and-operations funds would cover other operational payroll impacts. Staff also proposed a one-time use of budget-balance carryforward to close an identified gap, noting that vacancy/turnover savings and a recent decline in employer retirement costs provide ongoing and one-time offsets to personnel costs.

Board members asked how the district would respond if enrollment losses exceeded projections. Finance staff said leadership has worked to “right-size” staffing through attrition and vacancy management rather than forced reductions to avoid layoffs; staff said they had not yet needed a reduction-in-force process and planned to manage further changes through retirements and vacancies when possible.

The board moved, seconded and approved the recommendation as action item 7.02. Doctor Blake Robeson made the motion to approve the 2% increase; Jesse Brainard seconded. President Chad Thompson called for the vote and trustees present voted aye. The board approved the recommendation by voice vote and the meeting record shows the motion passed unanimously.

Staff cautioned that several risks remain: the Legislature could alter base funding or fail to adopt the governor’s proposal; Proposition 123 funding expires June 30, 2025, and its future treatment remains uncertain; inflationary pressures or minimum-wage changes could increase costs; conversely, higher-than-projected enrollment or higher state allocations could improve the district’s position.

District staff said administrator, professional staff and teacher contracts will be updated with addenda reflecting the approved 2% increase pending board approval; support-staff notices were slated for April 14 and would include the increase if board approval remained in place.","Board voted unanimously to approve a recommended 2% pay increase for fiscal 2026 after staff outlined a preliminary budget that assumes a 1,300 ADM decline, proposes gifted and ELL FTE additions, and relies on classroom site fund increases and one-time carryforward to balance.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Gilbert Public Schools reports 73.2% of spending in classrooms; audit data and teacher-salary measures vary

Board appoints principal for Canyon Valley; brief remarks from appointee

Gilbert board backs recommended 2% pay increase for FY2026; budget presentation balances ADM losses and new FTEs