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Kyrene board approves issuance of administrative, certified and ESP contracts at current rates
Summary
On Feb. 11 the Kyrene board voted unanimously to direct talent management to issue administrative, certified and education support professional contracts at current pay levels for the 2025-26 school year; certified contracts will be issued on March 24 per new statute timing.
The Kyrene Elementary District Governing Board voted 5-0 on Feb. 11 to direct talent management to issue administrative, certified and education support professional (ESP) contracts at current pay levels for the 2025-26 school year.
The board separately approved administrative contract language, certified contract language and ESP contract language after short staff presentations and limited questions. Each motion passed unanimously.
Assistant Superintendent Lisa Gibson explained updates to contract language to reflect new statutory requirements and district policies, including additions tied to ARS 15-509 about employee disclosures. "This new contract language requires employees to immediately disclose an arrest or criminal charge that may occur during employment, which is in alignment with our current policies and procedures," Gibson said. She told the board that administrative contracts would be issued in late February, certified contracts on March 24 (per statute prohibiting issuance prior to March 15), and ESP contracts in late April or early May.
Board members discussed timing implications of the later certified contract issuance. Vice President Trina Nelson and others noted that the statutory shift to March issuance reduces the historic cushion teachers previously had before spring break and could shorten the window staff have to accept contracts, potentially delaying clarity about vacancies. Gibson said certified employees will have the statutorily required 15 business days to accept or reject contracts under the new timeline.
Votes and motions recorded in the meeting included: - Administrative contracts: Motion by Amy Satri, second by Bunny Davis; outcome: approved 5-0. - Certified contracts: Motion by Cedric Collins, second by Vice President Trina Nelson; outcome: approved 5-0. Staff proposed issuing certified contracts on March 24 per the new statutory date. - ESP contracts: Motion (mover not specified in transcript motion language), second by Bunny Davis; outcome: approved 5-0. Gibson said the district proposes issuing ESP contracts in late April or early May.
Gibson also said the district will include a 3.5-year retention bonus for employees signing a seventh consecutive contract, if applicable, and that superseding contracts remain an option if additional funding becomes available later in the fiscal year.
Board President Kevin Walsh closed the item after the votes; staff said they would return to the board with any proposals for salary addenda if funding permits.
