Lately, there’s been a lot of buzz about what Arizona superintendents get paid. The Goldwater Institute released a report showing how some districts hand out big perks — car allowances, leave buyouts, retirement boosts — that push superintendent pay packages into the stratosphere.
Here in the Buckeye Union High School District (BUHSD), things look a little different.
Superintendent Dr. Steve Bebee, who leads our local district of three high schools, isn’t among the state’s highest paid. Sure, like most leaders, his contract includes extras such as a car allowance, but his overall compensation is far lower than many of his peers across Arizona. And unlike in some districts, Buckeye Union taxpayers are getting a strong return on their investment.
Just look at the results: all three BUHSD high schools — Buckeye Union, Youngker, and Estrella Foothills — are rated “A” schools by the Arizona Department of Education. That’s right — not one, not two, but all three. On top of that, Youngker High School carries the added honor of being named an A+ School of Excellence. That’s a big deal, especially in a fast-growing community like ours.
And Buckeye Union isn’t just making the grade in academics. The district also runs lean. The state average for administrative cost per student is $1,276. Here in BUHSD, it’s $1,148 per student, ranking 4th lowest out of 13 districts of similar size. That means less money spent on overhead and more resources available for students and teachers.
When you put it all together, the picture is clear: Buckeye Union is proving you don’t have to overspend on administration to have strong schools. Dr. Bebee and his team have found a balance — keep costs down, keep performance high, and keep our community proud.
In today’s debates over education, it’s easy to get caught up in the negatives — too much money here, not enough results there. But in Buckeye, the story is different. We have a superintendent who earns less than many of his peers and leads a district where every single high school is an A school.
That’s not just good leadership. That’s good stewardship of taxpayer dollars. And it’s something worth celebrating.
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