Multiple occupational and physical therapists told the board about unprecedented vacancies and personal financial hardship linked to pay and salary schedules, and budget staff said community engagement confirmed classified pay and retention as top budget priorities.

Erica White, who said she began work in DPS this summer, described delayed pay and unsuccessful negotiations that left her unable to cover bills: "Then December 5, I was evicted from my apartment," she told the board, listing county salary comparisons that showed higher pay in neighboring systems. Lead occupational therapist Leonor Champion urged the board to "Please pay attention as you deliberate on the budget and the salary issues for classified staff," saying she had lost roughly a third of her OT team and was forced to rely on contract therapists to provide federally mandated services.

Other clinicians said salary compression, lack of supplements for advanced degrees and stagnant steps have pushed seasoned therapists to neighboring districts offering higher pay and supplements for doctoral degrees. Christy Clem and Heidi Jo Hetland described high caseloads, burnout and a district workforce that now includes many less-experienced replacements.

Budget staff reported results from the district thought-exchange: more than 1,000 ideas were submitted, parents made up 67% of respondents (811), employees numbered 402 and 33 students participated. A word cloud and comment counts highlighted "pay staff," teacher raises and classified-pay remedies as recurring themes; staff said they will return with pay models and meet-and-confer conversations in late January and February.

What happens next: administration committed to bring salary models and options for classified pay to later meet-and-confer meetings and to continue discussing occupational/physical therapy compensation during budget development. Board members also asked staff to consider relevant external reports and district practices that could reduce early-grade suspensions and the related impact on students who need services.

Provenance: Public comments and budget-feedback presentation (public comment spans SEG 256'SEG 478, budget feedback presentation runs SEG 2403'SEG 2572).