Kyrene teachers set to receive pay increase as 3 schools close

The Kyrene School District is giving teachers and certified staff a 4% pay raise as the district closes three schools.

In December, the Kyrene School District governing board voted to close six schools because of declining enrollment. Elementary schools Kyrene de la Estrella and Kyrene de la Colina, along with elementary and middle school Kyrene de las Manitas will close this summer.

Kyrene Traditional Academy, a K-8 school, and the district’s two middle schools, Kyrene del Pueblo and Kyrene Akimel A-al, will close before the 2027-28 school year.

As a result of the consolidation plan, the district says there are additional savings that will be going to staff paychecks.

On top of the teacher’s pay increase, administrators and education support staff will also receive a 2% pay raise.

Certain employees will also receive $1,000 as a retention stipend for staying within the district. Other stipends for hard-to-fill positions like Dual-language teachers will also be handed out.

“Our teachers, leaders and support professionals are the foundation of student success,” Kyrene Superintendent Laura Toenjes said in a statement. “We are proud to prioritize compensation in a way that helps us recruit and retain the very best educators for Kyrene students,” she said.

Funding for this journalism is made possible by the Arizona Local News Foundation.

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