Kyrene board approves multi-part compensation package, new therapist schedules and $1,000 retention stipend

The Kyrene Elementary District governing board on May 13 approved a package of salary and stipend changes aimed at improving employee recruitment and retention.

The board voted unanimously to raise the certified teacher salary schedule by 4%, increasing the district’s starting teacher base pay by roughly $2,000 to about $52,454 for FY 2026–27 and to implement a revised tiered annualized market stipend structure for eligible certified staff. The certified schedule change was presented by Lisa Gibson, assistant superintendent for talent management, and described by proponents as a step to remain competitive with neighboring districts.

In separate votes the board approved a 2% lift to all Education Support Professional (ESP) salary schedules and a 2% lift to administrative salary schedules. The ESP motion passed 4–1; one board member registered opposition. The administrative vote passed with one abstention recorded.

The board also adopted a new allied‑health therapist salary schedule targeted at positions identified as “significantly misaligned” with the market, including speech‑language pathologists (SLPs), occupational therapists (OTs) and physical therapists (PTs). Leaders said the change is intended to reduce reliance on contracted vendors that have filled many of those roles and to attract employees who can lead IEP meetings and provide consistent services. A separate psychologist schedule (school psychologists are treated as administrators) was also approved.

To provide an immediate, one‑time boost the board approved a $1,000 retention stipend for full‑time employees (two payments of $500, in December and the following June), with $500 per semester for employees less than 0.5 FTE. District staff said the stipend will be funded largely from savings tied to vacant positions and will cost about $2.4 million.

Public comment before the votes featured several district speech‑language staff who described difficulty recruiting and retaining SLPs because Kyrene’s pay lagged neighboring districts. Sarah Schallhauser, a Kyrene speech‑language pathologist, said the proposed therapist schedule “gives me hope that I can stay in Kyrene,” and urged the board to approve the changes to retain staff and reduce use of contract providers.

The board’s package reflects trade‑offs the district identified in budget materials: reduced enrollment that produces an estimated $3.5 million negative impact to revenue, savings expected from school consolidations, and modest increases in state funding assumed in projections. District leaders told the board that the compensation increases are balanced against a combination of expenditure reductions, expected state funding true‑ups and one‑time savings.

What happens next: Talent management will issue salary addenda to certified and administrative employees before the last day of school, and compensation notices for ESP staff as soon as possible. The board’s approval means the new schedules and stipend will be applied in FY 2026–27.