Board approves SHINE stipend policy for special education, secondary math and science

The Grand Canyon School District Board of Education approved a policy on Sept. 10 adopting the state’s SHINE (highly needed educator salary supplement) framework and designating the district’s initial eligible positions: special education (including speech‑language pathologists), secondary math and secondary science.
Matthew Keyes, district administrator and business administrator, said the board is following a structure similar to the Teacher Student Success Program (TSSP) and that the district’s exhibit lists the specific high‑need categories. He said the board had made the exhibit more flexible about degree and transcript requirements to allow local discretion.
Keyes said an estimated 20 teachers could initially qualify but the final number depends on state qualifying indicators and the district’s final allocation. He also discussed a state requirement that stipend pay be spread across 12 months and noted an administrative deadline for submission of qualifying data on Sept. 15, which affects how the district will process payments this year.
Board member Jenna Woodbury moved to approve the policy; Marlee seconded. The motion carried on a voice vote.
The board and staff emphasized the policy will be reviewed annually; the exhibit that lists eligible positions must be reapproved each year so the board can add or remove positions based on need and available funding. Staff said the SHINE allocations are limited and the exhibit is meant to balance recruitment of hard‑to‑fill positions with retention of current staff.