Crane School District pay increase exposes unmet Red for Ed needs

No matter if you are a teacher, janitor, school bus driver, or somewhere in between, the Crane School District approved an equal pay increase for all of its teachers and staff.

Last month, the Crane School District opened a poll to all of their employees offering four different compensation and benefits options.

Those options were based on projected revenue, legislative funding intentions, Proposition 206 (Fair Wages and Healthy Families Act), and continuous employee comments and feedback throughout the year.

The district board took a collective approach towards its decision-making and after careful deliberation, the Crane School District Board approved a 6.25% pay increase on all non-entry level roles.

The increase will take into effect in July 2019.

Mario Hogue, Community Relations Coordinator, said, “It’s been a monumental year for the Crane School District. Through the prudent use of resources, we have been able to reinvest back into our staff which extends back into the families.”

Although this was a major step in the right direction for the school district, compensation isn’t the only area that needs to be addressed.

When examining the funds for this pay increase, $1.85-million are being reallocated to support this budget.

Of that amount, only five percent comes from a guaranteed grant through the 20 by 2020 initiative; which came on the heels of the Red for Ed movement.

Dale Ponder, Chief of Finance and Operations, said much of the school district’s resources have to be met by local taxpayers.

Ponder stated, “Now, we’re relying on the local community to supply just our minimum needs. So we really need to get back to a position where the state’s providing those minimum needs that we need to have to educate our youth. And those things that we want as a district above and beyond then come through voter initiatives.”

The minimum needs Ponder is referring to are necessities such as additional soft capital funds for school buses, technology, and facility upgrades.

In order to take the Red for Ed movement to the next level to address more of Arizona’s education needs, Ponder suggests, “Getting all of the stakeholders together at the same table and really show why public education is important within Arizona and nationally. So, all of us getting on the same page, understanding that if we have the right resources it will be a huge benefit.”

But for now, the Crane School District feels comfort in knowing their governing board is supportive of their teachers and staff.

Ultimately, this pay increase helps with retention and recruitment of more qualified staff; furthering the futures of our youth.