Board member Amy Carney was adamant against a 2% raise going to SUSD’s top administrators.
(File photo)
Deer Valley Unified is hardly the only district around having financial struggles.
For sudden drama, it’s hard to top Deer Valley, where Superintendent Curtis Finch abruptly resigned after failing to win board approval of a school boundaries change plan.
But for consistent drama, DVUSD’s neighbor Scottsdale Unified School District might be the leader.
The last six months of SUSD meetings has been a rollercoaster of anguished school closing votes, optimism over “repurposing” plans, concerns over a massive budget deficit — and, most recently, hot debate over raises.
After a weeklong “spring break,” classes at Scottsdale Unified School District resumed March 23.
This week, SUSD teachers and administrators may have extra-wide smiles, as they will be getting pay bumps in the coming months.
Other Scottsdale Unified employees, including health and instructional assistants, may not be as happy, after recent board action to slash support staff as a money-saving move.
At its March 10 meeting, the SUSD Governing Board approved a “proposal from IBN (Interest Based Negotiations) requesting approval for (a) 2% increase for all employee groups.”
The across-the-board raises going into effect in the fall combine for a $3 million increase.
“It is a little bit difficult to say we’re cutting positions but also increasing salaries,” commented Heather Cruz, assistant superintendent of Human Resources.
“However, I do believe this aligns with our operating principles … as well as attracting and maintaining staff, which is so important to our students.”
The vote was 4-1, with Amy Carney staunchly opposed.
“I’d love to give even more than 2% – but we just cut social workers,” Carney said, referencing an earlier vote.
“Giving a 2% raise to our cabinet and highest level people – it’s not financially responsible,” she continued.
Compared to relatively small teacher raises, Carney said, “The directors will be looking at $2,000 to $3,000 raises on their already six-figure salaries.”
A somewhat reluctant Carine Werner, who often shares Carney’s views, voted for the raises.
“I support our staff getting raises — especially at the site level,” Werner said. “The teachers are amazing.”
Stating cabinet members are making $150,000-200,000
But, she added, “It’s hard to digest when there’s such a big pay disparity between district staff and people working at our schools.
“It’s absolutely unfair to our site staff.”
Responding to a prompt, Cruz noted, “Having listened to input from the governing board, we did bring forward that cabinet performance pay would be eradicated moving forward.”
The agenda item noted “School Administrative Position Classifications and Salary Range: Removal of performance pay of $1,500.”
Board member Matt Pittiinsky commented, “I want to say thank you for that, I value the work of the cabinet.”
According to a recent state report, SUSD’s average teacher salary was $75,452 — nearly $10,000 higher than the state average.
Over the last eight years, SUSD teacher salaries rose by more than 50%; the average Scottsdale Unified teacher made just under $50,000 in 2017.
In the “administration” category, SUSD spent $1,146 per student, less than the state average of $1,309 per student — but higher than SUSD’s peers, who pay $1,048 per student for administration.
State auditors deemed SUSD administration spending “high,” relative to the peer average.
At a Feb. 10 meeting, the district’s chief financial officer stated:
“The estimated Maintenance and Operations budget deficit is $7.7 million.”
The board’s selection of “option 3” was projected to save the district around $6.1 million.
But, after the 2% raises, the district may have a deficit of around $5 million.