Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Workforce And Labor topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Therapists tell Jordan School Board low pay driving departures; district asked to consider salary adjustments
Summary
Occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists and teachers’ association leaders addressed the board during public comment, urging higher compensation to retain experienced therapists and avoid hiring gaps for federally mandated services.
Occupational therapists, physical therapists and speech-language pathologists told the Jordan School District Board during public comments on Feb. 25 that current pay scales make it difficult to retain experienced clinicians and recruit new staff.
Melanie Kanek, identified as motor development team lead and an occupational therapist with 16 years in the district, told the board the district employs roughly 20 OTs and 12 PTs, including early-intervention staff and clinicians serving Curry Sue Hamilton school and itinerant therapists across the district. Kanek asked the board to "please consider a salary adjustment to invest in our current experienced therapists," noting that while Jordan’s starting salaries are "somewhat competitive," Jordan falls behind neighboring districts by year five and beyond.
OT colleague Kelly Wood, a 20-year Jordan employee, told the board the district’s experienced therapists are a critical asset: “School taught us the book knowledge to be an OT or a PT. In my experience, however, a new therapist does not come out of graduate school with the ability to efficiently implement the knowledge in a setting as unique as this.” Wood warned that losing experienced staff would force the district to hire more therapists to maintain current service levels and urged compensation that is “competitive and reflect[s] the district's desire to retain the very best highly skilled and knowledgeable therapists.”
Speech-language pathologists made similar appeals. Wendy Barrett and Amy Ludlow said recruitment and retention are difficult because SLPs can be paid more in hospitals, clinics and private practice. Barrett asked the board to consider pay adjustments such as master’s-plus pay scales, paying for board certification, or other mechanisms used by other districts to better match the private sector.
Janet Sanders, president of the Jordan Education Association, thanked the board for its past collaboration and urged continued joint approaches despite recent legislative changes affecting collective bargaining. Several teachers and JEA leaders praised district policies (cell phone rules, paid hours for extra time) and encouraged continued partnerships.
Why it matters: Occupational therapists, physical therapists and SLPs provide services mandated by IDEA (Individual with Disabilities Education Act), and staffing shortfalls can affect the district’s ability to provide FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education). Several speakers tied retention directly to student outcomes and recommended salary adjustments to secure experienced clinicians.
What the board did: Public comment concluded without an immediate action vote. Board members asked staff to note the testimony and implied that compensation and staffing for these roles would be considered during budget and HR planning.
Ending: The public comment period put district workforce pressures — especially for therapists who serve specialized and federally mandated roles — on the board’s agenda. Staff follow-up and potential pay-scale changes may be discussed during upcoming budget deliberations.
