Board approves 8% pay framework, benefit changes and dozens of new positions after Meet & Confer report

The Tolleson Union High School District governing board on Thursday approved an 8% compensation framework, updates to employee health benefits and a package of new and reclassified positions recommended by the district's Meet & Confer committee.

The board adopted the compensation package after a presentation from Chief Financial Officer Ken Hicks, who said the committee's recommendation includes an 8% general increase with a salary-capping mechanism that limits base increases to 3% for employees above a threshold on the placement schedule. "The committee is recommending an 8% increase, so similar to last year, and we'll continue the salary capping component of that," Hicks said during the meeting.

Hicks told the board the district will raise its initial placement salary schedule by 4% and that the committee expects the majority of staff to receive the full increase: about 1,400 employees would receive the full 8% while a small percentage would be capped and receive a smaller base increase. He said the district estimates its medical and benefits costs will increase by roughly 14%, about $1.5 million, driven in part by increased claims and additional counseling resources added during the year.