Phoenix Elementary School District 1 is cutting the merit-based pay of veteran school teachers, which accounts for 15% of their salaries, while offering $1,500 bonuses to new teachers who join the district. Some of the teachers believe it is in part due to the fact more experienced teachers are less likely to support Critical Race Theory (CRT) and other radical curricula. Teachers at one of the district’s schools, Shaw Montessori, held a protest in front of the district’s administration building Wednesday night while its leadership was meeting.
The teachers found out in early February about the pay cuts. Administrators, principals and other staff are getting pay raises, veteran teacher Vanessa Stricker told the Arizona Sun Times. And Phoenix Elementary School District 1 School Superintendent Larry Weeks got a pay raise last year that was reportedly was 12%, maybe even as high as 16%, just in time to substantially increase his retirement pay when he retires in May.
The pay cuts will affect how much retirement pay the teachers get. With inflation skyrocketing, it’s going to hit them doubly hard, Stricker said. She pointed out that instead of investing funds into teacher salaries, the school district spent a hefty amount — $632,498 plus possibly more in overrides — repainting every school this summer.
Read the rest of the article at The Arizona Sun Times
