[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":73},"mediaId",6456218,"mediaKeyId","5692040-d98b40dc68b4571a3da93a7133f37c5b","parentId",5692040,"title","Washington Elementary board discusses scope and timeline for permanent superintendent search","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1485000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5692040-d98b40dc68b4571a3da93a7133f37c5b&start=1485&end=1485","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5692040-d98b40dc68b4571a3da93a7133f37c5b/thumbnail_1485000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6456218/Arizona/Washington-Elementary-board-discusses-scope-and-timeline-for-permanent-superintendent-search","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6456218-69a6f03a612bf41d8fd1112dde3a241c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770548080&Signature=WZYVIODdS1BSO4yDlur3h~Zcry~ivlF-2Re6rz6azGNdZOysFi6fBJhU2xo0DgT-uTCr75Fh0vXneknwsHZK~HUEndAYpVaLxDOfyXnWpve1xI6x~TIQtiClmTtz4f9X~b7Zvxnn-8xi3JS1M6t3TV9nDmewBIEzBaCj6QxIYbnF~RiwdUZiXQhh0tCKNvy7YsrH2rN-6UxxTuUxXSai-wo8ApsFZvdIwG5a~R09gn8om7YX1s6utQ6tyNmHlUQ1wFbFidrHcAPibdYVyS~3h9AsbbSoD-tSOYxGFWydArKD4e14m1tLIVZS9CRFi0D1tT-lni9tOstuttrByfwkuw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Washington Elementary School District","date","2025-08-29T14:05:50Z","article","The Washington Elementary School District governing board discussed next steps for a permanent superintendent search during its Aug. 28 meeting, including procurement options, timeline, scope and community engagement.

Board members debated whether to pursue a statewide or national search and whether to issue an RFQ/RFP or use an existing procurement consortium (co-op) that already has vetted firms. Procurement staff said an RFQ could take roughly six to eight weeks; a consortium or co-op could shorten that timeline because a solicitation has already been completed.

Board member Bill Adams urged the board to consider in-state candidates while noting some districts have succeeded with out-of-state hires. Adams said an RFQ or national search can be costly, \"I've already heard on the streets that if you go especially if you go nationally, between 50 and a 100,000.\" He recommended administration issue an RFQ so the board could compare firms' capabilities and costs.

Procurement staff (Danny Perrin) and another staff member, Mr. O'Brien, explained options: a local firm could conduct a national search, and cost and timeline ultimately depend on the scope, marketing and criteria the board elects. O'Brien said he would check whether local consortium agreements include superintendent-search firms and work with procurement to present options.

Vice President Lindsay Peterson said she favored starting with administration identifying interested vendors and then having the hired consultant lead development of a candidate profile, public input sessions and a timeline. Peterson sought significant community input during the search and said she would like a timeline that allows overlap and shadowing with current superintendent Dr. Hightower, who is under contract through June 2026, to permit transition time if the district hires before that date.

Board members described common search steps consultants provide: conducting a profile-of-a-superintendent exercise, marketing the vacancy, vetting candidates, narrowing to finalists and hosting public forums and staff presentations for finalists. Members asked administration to present a proposed timeline and vendor list for an action item at a future meeting.

No formal action was taken; the item was informational and board members asked administration to return with procurement options and a recommended critical path and timeline for the search process.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","WESD Regular Governing Board Meeting - Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, 6:15 p.m.","oneSentenceSummary","Board members discussed issuing an RFQ/RFP or using a consortium or co-op to hire a search firm, weighing local versus national searches, timeline options (RFQ 6'8 weeks), estimated consultant costs, and community engagement; administration will return with timelines and vendor options.","taxTitle","Washington Elementary School District (4260), School Districts, Arizona","taxId",12983,"location","Arizona","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6456221,"Washington Elementary board approves one-time retention and longevity stipends for staff",1004,710000,1714000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5692040-d98b40dc68b4571a3da93a7133f37c5b&start=710&end=1714","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5692040-d98b40dc68b4571a3da93a7133f37c5b/thumbnail_710000.jpg","/articles/6456221/Arizona/Washington-Elementary-board-approves-one-time-retention-and-longevity-stipends-for-staff","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6456221-fb54026b180602d080d042c8441a3fea/orig.mp4?Expires=1770548080&Signature=oFmZEyfM09mM90AaHc~-akMjClZFfaBfgt027TbnDBWUdr6z2ZofLcZ-J64j3U5oT8NJ0y27s5zVinTJgBNRGahYKyV-f-ajf233jd0XXO-4CxvOoAEcJVsbEMvaemnd1~HB0vV0RG0GDukqCriq0HQ4sieriKGxRWr2~UlOwcZbL1T4W-4JNyPewik2Ib00sIp4d1tWQtB0feaDssaKbRc25CXPNUMu76LD2SxXbAaMMb6fpvfLOPbzu~k1Sl5I4jxniYFngdl22Ox7jH88VFPzRV43O8-ybcGK0Yqmk9JeB1SdiTdQVHF5Ci2upRNCGa7vsbZHgo-12koTJszDXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Washington Elementary School District governing board on Aug. 28 approved a proposal from the district's interest-based negotiation (IBN) team to pay one-time retention stipends and per-year longevity stipends to eligible employees, in a 3-1 vote.

The board approved a flat, one-time retention stipend of $200 for employees with one to nine years of service and $300 for employees with 10 or more years of service, plus longevity payments of $30 per year for one to four years of service, $40 per year for five to nine years, and $60 per year for 10 or more years. The IBN presenter said stipends are prorated by FTE and limited to the employee's FTE (for example, a 0.5 FTE receives 50%). Eligibility requires employees to have been hired or in the process of being hired by March 31, 2025, and to remain employed through the pay cycle in which the stipend is paid.

Dr. Stewart, presenting the IBN recommendation, gave two examples: an employee with six years of service would receive $440 before standard deductions (a $200 flat stipend plus $240 for six years at $40 per year), and an employee with 19 years of service would receive $1,440 ($300 plus $1,140 for 19 years at $60 per year).

The board heard that the district expects to fund the stipends using MIPS Medicaid reimbursement dollars and Prop 301 (classroom site fund) dollars. Board member Bill Adams cited district enrollment declines and a rough revenue estimate: a decline of about 750 students translating to roughly $5,200,000 in reduced revenue and an estimated stipend cost of approximately $1,900,000. Adams thanked staff for identifying funding sources while noting the district's fiscal responsibilities.

Vice President Lindsay Peterson praised the IBN team's work but criticized the pace and the district's recent compensation history, saying, \"I'm frustrated that it took us so long to get here, and that the board had to literally push and push and push to get this done.\" Peterson also said staff experienced a net pay cut year over year because of prior ESSER-funded bonuses and stipends.

Board members discussed payment timing; administration said they were looking at a pay period between pay period 6 and pay period 7 toward the end of September but had not finalized the exact pay date. The IBN presenter said the team recommended the stipends without using general maintenance and operations funds, citing declining enrollment as a funding constraint.

A motion to approve the IBN recommendation passed with three votes in favor and one opposed. The motion was moved by Governing Board President Kyle Clayton and seconded (second not identified in the public record). The board did not record individual roll-call votes in the transcript excerpt; the meeting record shows a tally of three in favor and one opposed.

The decision concludes a multi-meeting IBN process on stipends. Several board members expressed hope to continue finding additional funds for staff compensation and asked that the IBN process ensure broader representative engagement going forward.

The board then moved on to a discussion of next steps for the district's permanent superintendent search.

","The Washington Elementary School District governing board voted 3-1 Aug. 28 to approve one-time retention and longevity stipends for the 2025-26 year, funded from MIPS Medicaid reimbursements and Prop 301 classroom site funds; board members raised concerns about declining enrollment and the IBN process.","actionData","errors"]

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Washington Elementary board discusses scope and timeline for permanent superintendent search

Washington Elementary board approves one-time retention and longevity stipends for staff