The Kyrene School District Governing Board has approved compensation increases and retention stipends for employees for the 2026-27 school year, continuing the district’s commitment to attracting and retaining exceptional educators while maintaining long-term financial stability.

Approved increases include:

• A 4% salary increase for teachers and other certified staff
• A 2% salary increase for education support professionals (ESP) and administrators
• Updated salary schedules for psychologists, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists and physical therapists, to align those positions with current market rates.

Approved stipends include:

• Retention stipends of up to $1,000 for eligible employees
• Updated annual market stipend structure to offer higher, earlier stipends for select hard-to-fill teaching positions, including Dual Language, Resource and Self-contained Resource teachers

The compensation increases, approved during the May 12 board meeting, are possible in part due to strategic long-term financial planning, including savings realized through school consolidation efforts. Like school districts across Arizona, Kyrene experiences annual employee retirements and resignations. With fewer positions needing to be filled for the coming year, the district was able to reinvest savings directly into employee compensation. The increases also reflect Kyrene’s continued focus on responsible budgeting, strategic expenditure reductions, and careful management of district resources.

“These investments reflect Kyrene’s deep commitment to the people who make our schools exceptional,” said Superintendent Laura Toenjes. “Our teachers, leaders and support professionals are the foundation of student success, and we are proud to prioritize compensation in a way that helps us recruit and retain the very best educators for Kyrene students.”

As part of these efforts to prioritize employee compensation, Superintendent Toenjes will not receive a salary increase. The board voted during the May 12 meeting to extend the superintendent’s contract through 2029, and she asked to remain at her current rate of pay.

Budget Update

In addition to employee compensation investments, the Kyrene Governing Board on May 12 held a study session to hear an update on the district’s Capital Master Plan. The update outlined how Kyrene will allocate funding from the 2023 capital bond and override, including school facility improvements across the district.

“Kyrene is deeply grateful to our voters for their continued trust and investment in our schools,” Toenjes said. “Community support allows us to maintain safe and innovative learning environments and continue providing exceptional opportunities for students.”