Superintendent’s contract addendum routed pay-for-performance to foundation; board approves performance goals

The Mesa Public Schools Governing Board unanimously approved on July 8 an addendum to Superintendent Matthew Strom’s employment agreement that directs any net superintendent performance pay to the Mesa Educational Foundation rather than to Strom personally. Trustees also approved Strom’s pay-for-performance goals intended to boost graduation rates and subject-area proficiency.

Strom told the board the addendum signals his intention to avoid personal financial gain from district performance targets. He said the arrangement mirrors approaches used by some East Valley superintendents and that he and the board president will sign a separate document confirming the superintendent’s decision to donate any net pay to the foundation.

The board also approved a multi-part rubric of pay-for-performance goals. Strom described 13 goals centered on school-level gains designed to raise district-wide outcomes: a 5 percentage-point increase in school-level graduation rates (with a district cohort target of 90% by 2027 if schools meet targets), school-level 5% gains in English-language arts, math and science proficiency, English-language learner gains, and college-and-career readiness measures linked to career academies. The rubric emphasizes achievement at the school level and includes board-development goals; the district’s highest awards would go to schools that meet the 5% per-school targets across content areas.

Trustees said they wanted transparent metrics and school-level expectations. The board approved the addendum and the goals by votes of 5–0. Strom and staff said the goals are tied to a rubric that clarifies partial and full achievement levels and that the board will monitor progress.