PHOENIX, AZ — The Paradise Valley Unified School District Governing Board approved a 2.5% salary increase for staff and renewed its performance-based teacher pay program during a meeting last Thursday.
Under the new agreement, the starting salary for teachers will rise from $47,853 to $50,000. The plan also includes a 10% boost to the district’s priority service credit, a benefit aimed at long-term employees.
The agreement, which received 95% ratification from the Paradise Valley Education Association, was praised by its president, Heather Schmidt.
“I am extremely excited about the results of our work,” Schmidt said. “This agreement adds 2.5% to every certified-base salary and increases longevity support.”
Teachers will also continue to be eligible for up to $4,925 in additional performance-based pay, depending on student test scores and completion of evaluation forms related to mandatory Professional Learning Community meetings.
Not everyone is on board with the incentive structure. Noelle Smetana, a music teacher at Echo Mountain Primary School, expressed frustration with the system.
“I think that all teachers put in far more hours than they’re actually paid for and therefore it should just be automatically given,” Smetana said. She added that the extra paperwork and travel requirements for specialized teachers make the process burdensome.
Despite the criticism, district officials say the program is meant to support professional growth and improve classroom performance. Paradise Valley Unified serves K-12 students in northeast Phoenix and northwest Scottsdale.
