YUHSD board OKs raises for some workers

All certificated staff members in the Yuma Union High School District will see a 12 percent pay increase next year.

The district’s governing board approved the 20182019 compensation and benefits package by a unanimous vote at its Wednesday evening meeting in the Yuma High cafeteria.

The increase factors in nearly $10,000 in Prop 301 funds, said Chief Financial Officer Dianne Cordery in her report to the board.

The state Legislature voted last week to give teachers statewide a pay increase, but left it up to districts how to distribute those funds. Each district is getting $210.50 per student, a figure based on an average.

However, Cordery noted that while the intent of the Legislature may have been to give every teacher a 10 percent raise, “it didn’t turn out to be that it was a 10 percent raise for every teacher.”

Plus, there are three different definitions of what a teacher is, she explained. Yuma Union has been including certain certificated employees in the definition of teacher since about the 2005-2006 school year.

Other classified employees are not being left out, said HR Director Wanda Ellis.

Classified staff members who are making more than minimum wage will receive an increase of 4 percent and administrators will receive a 3 percent raise, the district said in a news release. All benefitted employees will also have an additional $500 rolled into their base pay and a $500 one-time payment in December.

Cordery and Superintendent Gina Thompson cautioned that what Yuma Union is doing is not being done by other districts.

“I think what you’re going to find is we are doing things a little bit differently than you may see across the state,” Cordery told the board.

“Each district is going to do something different,” Thompson said. She also noted that the work that was put into the compensation package is “Yuma Union High School District’s commitment to our values and to our teachers.”

Three speakers spoke during the district’s call to the public. Teacher Jerri Van Sickle prompted the board to consider how it would prevent lawsuits against teachers who participated in the #RedForEd movement given the Goldwater Institute’s threatened legal action vs. teachers.

Cibola High School Student Daniel Webb asked the board to reconsider its decision to appoint Derek Bosch as the school’s new principal. Webb polled 125 students and said that 75 percent supported appointing assistant principal Lisa Domby. Webb also included suggestions on ways students and board members could communicate better.

Parent Ava Mendez Ponce addressed the board about staff conduct with students and staff ethics, asking the board to look into a situation concerning behavior observed by her children.

Board President Phil Townsend said the board would direct the matter to the appropriate principal for follow-up.

The student councils from all the district’s high schools presented “year in reviews” to the board, including achievements in academics, athletics and college scholarships attained.

To date, students have been awarded more than $23 million from all the district’s campuses. A final number will not be available until June.

Nutrition Director Jamie Walden also announced the sites for the district’s summer food program; and Assistant Principal at San Luis Frank Nunez gave a presentation on the Northstar Program.