Higley board approves Classroom Site Fund plan after tense exchange

By Tom Blodgett
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The Higley Unified School District Governing Board voted unanimously Nov. 18 to approve next year’s Classroom Site Fund performance plan, but not before an extended and sometimes tense debate. 

The debate was over whether the funding is sustainable and whether the district was being sufficiently transparent during its recent override campaign. 

The plan — approved by all certified staff before reaching the board — raises the Classroom Site Fund base-salary portion to $8,597, shifts part of 6/5ths supplemental pay into the fund, and updates psychologist pay-for-performance language.  

The Classroom Site Fund, created by Proposition 301, can be used only for certified staff and is separate from maintenance and operations funding. 

Board Member Anna Van Hoek questioned whether the district could sustain the increased amount if sales tax collections decline or enrollment drops. She also noted that the agenda document uses the phrase “base salary,” which she said was misleading.  

“The document literally says base salary,” she said, adding that she wanted to ensure “that this is sustainable long term.” 

Human Resources Executive Director Karen Johnson repeatedly emphasized that Classroom Site Fund dollars are segregated and do not increase an employee’s contractual base pay.  

“If the fund decreases and we run out of money, then we run out of money and they no longer get this,” she said. 

Interim CFO Sharon Rushkamp also confirmed the district could sustain the plan for the coming year. 

Several board members showed visible frustration as the discussion stretched on. Board President Amanda Wade underscored that the fund’s structure is a longstanding product of state underfunding, not a district-created mechanism.  

“This does not increase base salary,” she said, repeating the point multiple times.  

Wade added that the district has had to be “extremely and overwhelmingly creative” to support salaries without override funding. 

At one point, Wade pushed back on Van Hoek’s characterization of the issue, saying she found it “rich” to hear concerns about sustainability after earlier criticism of district budgeting.  

She maintained that the board has been clear about how Classroom Site Fund dollars work and noted the board used the same fund to give staff increases last year after voters rejected the override. 

Board Member Scott Glover also urged a narrower focus.  

“We should be voting on this for 2025–26,” he said, pointing out that the plan is reviewed annually and long-term projections cannot be guaranteed. 

Other members echoed support for increasing compensation while wanting to plan prudently. Board Member Sara Jarman said the district should continue trying to “propel our teachers” while preparing for future budget pressures. 

Despite the friction, Van Hoek ultimately joined the 5–0 vote to approve the plan. She requested that administrators return with a three-year revenue projection for the Classroom Site Fund and the anticipated cost impact of the increase. 

The Classroom Site Fund plan will now be incorporated into the district’s fiscal year 2025-26 budget. 

Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines. Tom Blodgett can be reached by email at tblodgett@iniusa.org or follow him @sp_blodgett on X. 

Tom Blodgett
Senior News Editor | Gilbert

tblodgett@iniusa.org

Meet Tom
Tom Blodgett joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2022, when the company acquired Community Impact Newspaper's Phoenix-area properties. Raised in Arizona, he has spent more than 35 years in journalism in the state.

Community: He has served as an instructional professional in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication since 2005, and is editorial adviser to The State Press, the university's independent student media outlet. He also is director of operations for an 18U girls fastpitch softball team from Gilbert.

Education: Arizona State University with a BS in Journalism. 

Random Fact: He lived in Belgium during his freshman year of high school.  

Hobbies: Tweeting enthusiastically about ASU softball (season-ticket holder) and grumpily about other local sports (pessimistic fan).