Dist. One budget passes with teacher, staff raises

Yuma Elementary District One’s 2018-2019 budget passed on a unanimous vote Wednesday morning during a special meeting, with most of the increases going to pay.

“The major increase you see throughout this budget is due to the raises for all our staff members,” said Chief Financial Officer Denis Ponder during the preceding public hearing on the proposed budget.

District One’s 18-19 budget contains an 11 percent salary increase (on average) for certified teachers depending upon years of service. Support staff employees will either get a 50cent an hour or $1 an hour raise, depending on where their classification falls on the district’s classified range. Other employees, which include positions such as therapists and certified assistants; psychologists; administrators; supervisors; and registered nurses, will receive raises from 5-6 percent, depending upon years of service.

The estimated cost of the raises for the district’s 1,077 employees is $3,207,840, according to a copy of the salary presentation.

The budget documents up for public comment Wednesday morning were essentially unchanged, Ponder said.

“There are no significant changes, no changes to what we presented earlier,” he said.

The district’s share of classroom site dollars (commonly known as Prop 301) increased 41 percent, Ponder said. Those dollars come from state tax revenues and are distributed based on a per-pupil count.

District One had a slight increase in its average daily attendance for the 1718 school year of about 210 students.

The sale of bonds also boosted the district’s bond building fund to $9 million, as it gets ready to start construction on the new Dorothy Hall Elementary School on the south side of Interstate 8 off Avenue 6E.

“All of that is for the new school,” Ponder said later in the day, though some dollars may finish out bond projects already underway. “It may cost a little more than that, but that’s pretty close.”

Voters approved a $16 million bond in 2014, and part of the bonds were sold right after the election, Ponder said; another round sold last year, which is why the district’s debt service is increasing from $1.4 million to $2.3 million.

“That is the principal and interest payment on the bonds,” he said.

Board President Karen Griffin, who attended the meeting by telephone conference call, opened the floor for public comments on the budget and, hearing no requests to speak, adjourned the public hearing. Clerk Barbara Foote also listened in by phone.

Before starting the board’s special meeting, Ponder read a statement thanking the district for allowing him to serve as CFO.

“It’s rare to find a group of people of such differing backgrounds that are all working to get each and every student the resources and opportunities that will help them grow, explore, achieve and ultimately succeed,” Ponder said. “Not every child will excel in math, science or ELA but at District One they are given the freedom to explore other aspects of themselves, as they grow to find their talents, skills and their place in an ever-changing background.”

Ponder thanked Superintendent Jamie Sheldahl for his leadership and foresight in helming the district, and for his inspiration in helping Ponder pursue a teaching career.

“I’m eager to take another seat on this bus and help foster the learning environment which will empower tomorrow’s leaders,” Ponder said in addressing Sheldahl. “Your leadership makes me confident that the students I’m striving to reach will continue to be the filter through which decisions are made and opportunities are addressed.”

The meeting continued with the approval of the consent agenda, new signers for the district’s accounts at the county level and with the approval of the budget.

The district’s next meeting is slated for Aug. 13.