YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Pay increases across the board for Yuma Union High School District (YUHSD) employees.
The board recently approved the increase.
The raises include a $3 per hour increase for certified staff and a 6% base pay increase for certified staff.
“Whether you're a classroom paraprofessional, a student dietitian, a custodian or a teacher administrator, we want to make sure your work is valued, and at the same time they We appreciate their efforts,” said YUHSD Superintendent Tim Brienza.
Classified staff are hourly employees and are paid an additional $3 per hour.
Although certified staff are salaried employees, their base pay will be increased by 6%.
Ben Frantz has been with the district for 14 years and says how much this means to him.
“This raise, on top of the previous raise, has given our family more breathing room. We just had our first child. If we had started, we would have had enough money to do it.'' That wouldn't have been an option,'' said Ben Franz, a government teacher at Cofa High School.
Franz was an advocate of the 2018 Red for Ed movement. The movement saw Arizona teachers wear red and walk out of class for six days in record numbers to advocate for higher teacher pay and more funding for K-12 education.
He said he has seen significant improvements in pay from the district over the years.
“Since December 2018, right after the Red for Ed movement, our district has seen a 44 percent increase in pay. Personally, I have seen an increase in pay of over 50 percent as I have taken on additional responsibilities.”
YUHSD said the starting salary for new teachers for the 2024-25 school year will be $42,500.
In addition to base pay, teachers also receive a Prop 301 performance pay twice a year.
The salary increase will take effect from July 1st.
YUHSD is currently recruiting for numerous positions for the 2024-2025 school year.
Click here for details: https://yumaunion.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx Or, attend the district's annual job fair on Thursday, March 21 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the district board room.
RSVP here: https://forms.gle/LrfzvAy5a2zVqGBV6
