Fountain Hills board approves new teacher-mentor stipends and extracurricular fee schedule

The Fountain Hills Unified School board approved two personnel and student-activity measures: the creation of mentor teacher positions at each school with a $1,800 stipend and an updated 2022–23 extracurricular fee schedule that includes family waivers.

Superintendent Doctor Sweeney described the mentor program as four mentor positions per school to support new teachers and others who would benefit from coaching. "The mentors will be required to meet with their mentees for a minimum of eight hours per quarter outside of their regular professional day," Sweeney said, and noted mentors would keep a log and share non-evaluative summaries with site administration. Funding for the stipend positions will come from Title II.

The board discussed the program’s intended design—site-based coaching, quarterly reporting, and non-evaluative logs—and expressed support for acknowledging mentor time with a stipend. A motion to add the $1,800 mentor stipend to the 2022–23 supplemental pay schedule was made, seconded and approved by voice vote.

On extracurricular fees, the board reviewed an updated schedule required by state law and discussed the district’s waiver policy for families who cannot afford fees. Trustees stressed that waivers ensure students are not excluded from sports, clubs or band for inability to pay. The fee schedule motion was seconded and adopted by voice vote.

Both actions were approved without recorded roll-call tallies; the transcript records standard voice votes and no opposition.