In April, teachers at Mingus Union High School joined teachers throughout the state in strikes and protests as part of the RedForEd movement, which resulted in the Arizona Legislature raising funds for education.
After more than a week of walkouts and teachers gathered at the capitol in Phoenix, the teachers’ secured from the Arizona Legislature a 20 percent raise in funds by 2020, including a 9 percent increase in the first year.
Unlike many schools throughout the state, Mingus Union High School was closed for only one day. However, they will still reap the benefits of the statewide strike. At a Mingus Union High School District Governing Board meeting on Thursday, June 28, the board unanimously approved its budget for the 2018-19 school year. Included in the budget is a raise for the district’s teachers.
The MUHSD budget for Fiscal Year 2019 totals to $8,199,771, which represents a 15.7 percent increase from the FY 2017-18 budget. The majority of that increase comes from nearly $1 million more in salaries and benefits, and most of that money comes from funds allocated by the legislature.
Average teacher pay in the district increased from $42,208 last year to $46,457 — an increase of $4,249 — accounting for a 10 percent increase, which is higher than the state average increase.
For classified staff, the legislature did not allocate similar funds, and the MUHS Board is following suit with non-teacher staff salaries.
This was a red flag for Phil Tanner, the school’s special education director and psychologist.
Tanner attended the meeting on Thursday to voice his concern regarding a 5 percent raise to his salary. His raise came with an increase in work days by more than 5 percent — effectively amounting to a cut in his per hour pay.
Tanner declined the offer from the school administration, which resulted in a dispute between Tanner and the MUHS board. A solution to Tanner’s concern over his salary was not established during the meeting.
Jon Hecht can be reached at 634-8551 or email jhecht@larsonnewspapers.com
