One possible solution is to increase tuition in the coming year in order to be able to raise the pay rates of the other teachers to be more in line with the potential new hire. Shaima wonders if it's worthwhile to possibly upset parents with a tuition hike if the students are exposed to more qualified teachers in the long term.

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Shaima considers whether she should put the hiring process on hold. It's possible that other teachers will apply for the job who would be more likely to sign on at the school's regular base pay rate.

What the staff and parents love most about Smiles Academy is the family$-$like atmosphere at the school. This has always taken precedence over things like being the highest paying pre$-$school for teachers.

In thinking through the situation, Shaima wonders what Tayna, her mentor and the school's former director, would have done in this situation.

Shaima extends an offer to the candidate at the regular $$18\mathrm{.}00$ per hour base pay rate. He respectfully declines the offer and instead takes a higher paying job at another pre$-$school.

Shaima pulls historical salary data on all of her stahsto assess everyone's current level of hourly pay, based on their years of service. She wants to assess how much of a problem it may cause if she started this new teacher out at $$23\mathrm{.}00$ per hour. $$

At the monthly board meetina. Shaima seeks feedback from the school's board members on her pay dilemma.

Shaima has always used the transparent compensation system because she believes strongly in being fair with her staff. They may not make as much as teachers at some other schools, but they are happy and are all treated equally. She wonders if hiring someone at an above$-$normal rate would change this.

$9$ After the candidate declines her offer, Shalma sils down with her staff at a meeting and discusses the situation. She lets them know her thought process and that she ultimately decided it was more important to maintain equity and culture than to pay more for someone with hiaher credentials. Thev all discuss the oulcomes of this situation together.