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.

The Meet & Confer presentation covered both compensation and a long list of operational and non-compensation recommendations compiled over six meetings. Non-compensation proposals included creating a sick-leave bank (policy was presented for first reading), expanding training for security staff, improving communication with transportation and new workplace-condition suggestions. Compensatory changes included increasing the district's stipend indexing, moving instructional assistants to a 7.5-hour day, expanding paid parental leave from two to three weeks and formalizing degree-based pay supplements (a $2,500 per degree payment, capped at $7,500).

The board also approved multiple new and reclassified positions intended to support operations, student services, safety, curriculum coaching, special education data work and facilities management. Among the roles discussed were a district security coordinator, two roaming district security staff, a security dispatcher role for sites, additional interventionists, two math coaches, an additional instructional technology coach, an IB coordinator, an ESS student-support analyst, new transportation leadership, a warehouse manager for central receiving, an HVAC lead (reclassification), and a bond project supervisor to manage capital projects.

Superintendent (referenced in the transcript as "Superintendent guys") and several cabinet members emphasized the collaborative process. "When everyone has a seat at the table, these are the results," a board member said in support during the discussion.

Not all trustees were fully comfortable with the scale of new positions. One board member said she was concerned about the number of positions presented at once and requested more opportunity for study; she explained her vote against the package, saying she supported many items but wanted a phased work-study process to review fiscal impact. The motion to approve the positions nevertheless passed. The board unanimously approved the employee health benefits package and the compensation framework.

The board also accepted a recommendation to change how post-employment leave payouts are administered for employees meeting age and payout thresholds, move certain stipends into base pay (with grandfathering for existing recipients), and to create clearer procedures for grant-funded extra-duty hourly caps to help federal grant planning.

What happens next: the sick-leave bank policy and other regulatory language appeared as first readings and will return on later agendas for final approval. Several of the new positions may be funded from a mix of general fund, categorical/program funds and bond proceeds (the bond-funded project supervisor was presented as a position that could be covered by bond funds). The administration said it will return with action items and budget details in subsequent board agendas.

Votes at a glance

- Approve employee health benefits for FY 2025-26: approved (roll call recorded unanimous yes) - Approve employee compensation increases (FY 2025-26): approved (roll call recorded unanimous yes) - Approve additional positions for FY 2025-26 (package of new and reclassified roles): approved (motion passed; one trustee explained a dissenting vote related to process and pace of additions) - First readings and policy items (sick-leave bank, KDDA revisions): advanced as first readings and will return for final action

The board noted several follow ups: administration will provide exact budget impacts and funding sources for the new positions, formalize language for the sick-leave bank, and return with related action items for final votes.