The Fountain Hills Unified School District Governing Board met last Wednesday, March 21, to discuss the issuance of new teacher and administrative contracts for the 2018-19 academic year.

These new contracts for FHUSD teachers would provide existing teachers in the district a pay increase based on the number of years they have been teaching in the district.

For one to two years of teaching experience, a teacher would receive a pay increase of 1.5 percent of their base pay. If a teacher has taught for three years, then they would receive a pay increase of 2 percent of their base pay. For four years of teaching, a 2.5 percent of base pay raise would be offered and, for five years of experience, teachers would get 4 percent of their base pay as a raise.

Teachers who have been teaching for six years or more in FHUSD would receive 5 percent of their base pay as an increase, plus two percent of their new adjusted salary.

Previously this salary plan had been used during the 2016-17 school year to attract new, experienced teachers to the district but, due to limited funds, existing teachers only received a 1 percent raise in salary.

“What I don’t want people to take from this is that it is based on seniority,” said Superintendent Patrick Sweeny. “It is based on [the fact] those people haven’t gotten the compensation through the years.”

With the funds made available by the most recent maintenance and operation override passed by voters, all teachers will be able to receive an increase in their salary based of their years of service.

All FHUSD administrative staff would receive a pay increase of 2.5 percent for the 2018-19 school year.

Currently a discussion item, the governing board is expected to consider approval of the new teacher and administrator contracts during the meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 11.