Preview: MUSD board to eye new administrators’ salaries

From a celebration of an award-winning team of middle schoolers to a proposed salary schedule for administrators to an employee termination, the Maricopa Unified School District Governing Board’s Wednesday agenda, though brief, has a little of everything.

The meeting will be the board’s first formal opportunity to recognize the district’s successful Future Cities teams. Maricopa Wells Middle School team won the Arizona regional and just returned from a trip to Washington, D.C., where they won two awards. Combined, teams from MUSD’s middle schools won half of the awards at the Arizona regional.

The board meets at 6:30 p.m. at the district office, 44150 W. Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway.

After looking at a new salary schedule for certified staff during its last meeting, the board will discuss a draft administrative salary schedule for 2015-16, which is stepless. In five of the past six years, MUSD was unable to fully fund its administrative salary schedule.

The proposed schedule does not impact current administrators and does not save the district money, according to an administration memorandum, which added, “The [Administrative Salary] committee noted that MUSD administrative salaries are lower than others in the region.”

Proposed base salary range:
-Directors of Business Services, Exceptional Student Services (ESS) and deputy superintendent: $75,000-$97,858
-High school principal: $70,000-$91,334
-Directors of Curriculum & Instruction, Human Resources, Teaching & Learning: $70,000-$91,334
-Middle school principal: $68,000-$88,725
-Elementary school principal: $65,000-$84,810
-District athletic director: $65,000-$84,810
-High school/middle school assistant principals: $58,000-$75,677
-Elementary school assistant principals: $55,000-$71,763
-Directors of Finance, Health Services, Assessment and Data: $55,000-$71,763
-High school dean of students: $45,000-$58,715
-Coordinators for purchasing, technology, network, maintenance and grounds, before and after school, transportation, grants and federal program: $45,000-$58,715

Of four people leaving the district’s employ, only three are resigning. MUSD administration is recommending the termination of the receptionist at Maricopa High School for “failure to meet the terms and conditions of a growth and improvement plan.” The firing would be effective on Thursday, if approved by the board.

Resignations include English Language Learner specialist Michelle Inskeep, effective Friday, secondary math coach Rachel Tucker, effective March 6, and ESS preschool teacher Joseph Fountain, effective May 22.

***ADVERTISEMENT***New employees up for approval are ESS paraprofessionals Patricia Aguirre-Busch and Sandra Perez and custodian substitutes Sabina Garcia and Omoniyi Oluwakemi. Kristine Tibi is being reclassified from substitute to ESS paraprofessional.

Also at the meeting, Santa Cruz Principal Gina Chaffin is scheduled to present her school’s status and progress. All students are expected to hit targeted growth rates in math and reading by May.

Business Services Director Aron Rausch will present the Financial Report from January. That includes a gain of 133 students during the month for a Jan. 31 head count of 6,320 students.