Arizona Schools for Deaf and Blind Consider Cutting Teacher Salaries

Critics say the move will deter experienced teachers from applying to the state's specialized schools.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 11:21pm

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The board for the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and Blind (ASDB) is considering making major changes to staff salaries, including reducing the maximum salary from $105,700 to $65,897. The school cites a growing budget deficit as the reason, but critics argue the move will discourage experienced teachers from working at the specialized schools that serve students who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing or deafblind.

Why it matters

ASDB provides critical educational services to some of Arizona's highest-need students. Experienced teachers are seen as key to the success of these specialized schools, so changes that could make it harder to attract and retain top talent are concerning to many.

The details

Under the proposed changes, ASDB would move from a salary schedule that rewards teachers for up to 25 years of experience down to just 10 years. This would significantly reduce the maximum base salary from $105,700 to $65,897. ASDB says the changes will only affect new hires, not current employees, but critics argue it still represents a breach of trust and could deter experienced educators from applying.

  • The ASDB board will vote on the proposed salary changes at its meeting on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
  • The new salary schedule, if approved, would take effect on July 1, 2026.

The players

Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and Blind (ASDB)

A state-run system of schools that provide educational services to students who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing or deafblind from birth to grade 12 across seven locations in Arizona.

William Koehler

A former member of the ASDB board who resigned in February 2026 over concerns about the board's actions, including the proposed salary changes.

Maria Murphy

The communications manager for ASDB.

Arizona Education Association

The state's teachers union, which has raised concerns about the proposed salary changes and their potential impact on recruitment and retention of educators at ASDB.

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What they’re saying

“While that may be a nice statement, I think there's a level of trust that has been abridged.”

— William Koehler, Former ASDB board member (azpm.org)

“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.”

— William Koehler, Former ASDB board member (azpm.org)

“You have teachers that are there for longer periods of time [and] because they're there, they gain more skills, more expertise, more insights into how to work with children who have all these special needs.”

— William Koehler, Former ASDB board member (azpm.org)

“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.”

— Maria Murphy, ASDB Communications Manager (KJZZ)

What’s next

The ASDB board will vote on the proposed salary changes at its meeting on Thursday, March 12, 2026. If approved, the new salary schedule would take effect on July 1, 2026 for new hires.

The takeaway

The proposed salary changes at ASDB raise concerns about the school system's ability to attract and retain experienced teachers who are essential for providing high-quality education to some of Arizona's most vulnerable students. The decision highlights the ongoing challenges of balancing budgets and compensating educators at specialized schools.