Page 12 - AASBO EDGE 2020 WINTER

LEGISLATIVE WORKSHOP

BY DON HARRIS

While Money Matters When Hiring School Employees,

Other Issues Are a Factor

Attracting and retaining teachers – as well as other school term substitutes and administration or certifi ed specialists,
district employees – isn’t always about the money. plus class sizes were increased, multi-grade classrooms were
created and by having teachers work without planning time.
Other issues involve working conditions and dealing
with stress that could be triggered by a number of things. Overall, vacancies were fi lled by a total of nearly 3,400
Justin Wing, Director of Human Resources, Washington individuals with non-standard teacher certifi cates, Wing
Elementary School District; Jenna Moffi t, Director of said. During the fi rst month of the school year, 427 teachers
Human Resources, Deer Valley Unifi ed School District; severed their employment for various reasons, the survey
Shaun Holmes, Associate Superintendent of Human and found. “Some teachers left at mid-term, some moved out of
Capital Resources, Mesa Public Schools; and Patti Tussey, state, some left for good reasons,” Wing said. “There was no
Chief Human Resources Offi cer, Pendergast Elementary one to replace them.”
School District, agreed that money is a key factor as they
discussed ways of addressing personnel challenges. Their Holmes said the 20 by 2020 legislation, which promised
presentation took place at the teachers a 20% pay raise by 2020, helped.
annual Legislative Workshop During the past two years, it was
sponsored by ASBA, easier to increase pay for teachers
AASBO and ASA on and in some cases other
November 15 in Mesa. employees, and to adjust
budgets, he said.

“Culture is Tussey said Pendergast gave
employees as much of a
important,” raise as possible.
Holmes Moffit said Deer Valley

said. “You gave teachers and some
professions,
need good
leaders

– a strong

leadership.”

They also explored the continuing shortage
of teachers. Wing, Past President of Arizona School
Personnel Administrators Association, said a survey by the including psychologists, a 10% raise two years ago.
association of district and charter schools found a widespread The district rearranged the Classroom Site Fund money
lack of teacher candidates. Of the 150 districts and charters and used some of it for professional development for
that participated in the survey, they reported nearly 7,000 teacher salaries. In addition, the district gave 12% raises
teacher vacancies four weeks into the 2019-2020 school to special education teachers. That didn’t provide an
year. The positions were fi lled by a combination of long- incentive for more to enter the fi eld, but it was appreciated

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12 THE EDGE WINTER 2020