Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and Blind Considers Major Salary Changes Amid Budget Concerns
The Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and Blind (ASDB) board is contemplating significant adjustments to the salary structure for staff, driven by a growing budget shortfall. This proposal, to be discussed at the upcoming board meeting on Thursday, has sparked concerns over potential impacts on teacher recruitment.
Historically, ASDB has utilized a salary schedule that increases with a teacher’s education level and experience, extending up to 25 years of service. The proposed changes would limit this to just 10 years, significantly reducing the maximum base salary from $105,700 to $65,897. However, current employees are not expected to be affected by this shift.
“While that may be a nice statement, I think there’s a level of trust that has been abridged,” commented William Koehler, a former ASDB board member, reflecting on the possible implications of the changes.
Koehler, who stepped down from the board in February following a controversial decision to relocate the Tucson campus to a new site, criticized the proposed salary adjustments. He expressed concern that the changes could deter experienced educators from joining ASDB, stating, “What this is saying is that we don’t want to hire anybody that has all that experience. We’re going to be hiring them, but we’re certainly not going to compensate them for it.”
Koehler emphasized the value experienced teachers bring to the institution, highlighting their developed skills and expertise in handling the unique needs of the students.
In a statement to KJZZ, ASDB Communications Manager Maria Murphy addressed the board’s intentions: “To ensure the fiscal stability of ASDB, our Board of Directors will be voting on a salary schedule for the 2026-2027 school year at our bimonthly meeting on Thursday, March 12. The proposed salary schedule affects new hires starting July 1, 2026. The current salary schedule remains active to honor approved grade advancements for the current teaching staff.”
The Arizona Education Association has voiced concerns about the proposal, questioning whether the board is genuinely committed to attracting and retaining educators for the state’s most vulnerable student populations. ASDB currently serves approximately 2,000 students who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind, from birth through grade 12 across seven locations.
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