Mesa Public Schools Plans For Teacher, Classified Staff Raises

By Mariana Dale
Published: Tuesday, April 9, 2019 - 3:35pm

Public school districts around the state are preparing their budgets for next year.

Arizona’s largest school district, Mesa Public Schools, is planning for a potential shortfall next year.

Administrators are trying to figure out how they’ll fund additional teacher raises and the minimum wage increase to $12 an hour.

The district reports the state budget has not provided enough money to fund the promised 20 percent pay teacher raises by 2020. As The Arizona Republic reported, the raises were slightly different in every district.

Mesa voters did not approve a budget override last fall, and the district predicts up to a $11.8 million budget deficit next year.

The district could call for another override election in November.

In the meantime district leaders are exploring ways to save money in areas such as transportation.

The school board will discuss the budget at a meeting Tuesday.

Education