YUHSD Governing Board adopts ‘Red for Ed’ resolution
The Yuma Union High School District Governing Board adopted a resolution in support of educators and the Red for Ed movement on Wednesday during a special work session at Yuma High School.
“I think it’s awesome that the school board recognized us and I appreciated it even more that they wanted to add their own thoughts and feelings to it,” Kofa High School teacher and Arizona Educators United liaison for Kofa John Ellegood said. “It just makes us feel like this movement has been worth it and we appreciate their support.”
The resolution is listed as follows with a two-paragraph addendum:
“Whereas the Yuma Union High School District Governing Board recognizes that the funding for schools in Arizona is a billion dollars below 2008 levels; and
Whereas the Yuma Union High School District Governing Board is witness to the consequences of this chronic underfunding and sees the negative impact to teachers, staff, students, families, our community and our state; and
Whereas the Yuma Union High School District Governing Board has supported and worked for solutions to fund teacher and support professionals pay raises and other educational needs, only to see the Arizona Legislature fail to stop enacting tax cuts that run counter to our efforts; and
Whereas no one has worked harder nor waited longer for raises and restoring the money for resources for their classrooms and schools nor sacrificed more than our teachers and support professionals; and
Whereas on behalf of our students and families, we cannot allow this crisis to continue without a plan to address these issues, we support our school employees as they make their demands known for the necessary funding for a meaningful teacher and support professionals pay raise and education funding;
Whereas we are confident our community, including parents, families, caregivers, business leaders, teachers, support professionals, families, school district administrators, neighbors, and friends will support our educators as they participate in #RedforEd advocating for what they need to educate our children and secure the future of Arizona.
Be it resolved that the Yuma Union High School District Governing Board is in full support of our educators and stands ready to take steps necessary to improve salaries and working conditions for our school employees.
The Yuma Union High School District Governing Board urges the Arizona State Legislature to work urgently on behalf of the children and families in our State to take swift and meaningful action to develop a viable plan to pay teachers and support professionals the professional salaries they deserve.”
The following was resolved on April 18, 2018:
The YUHSD 70 Governing Board respects and appreciates the daily work of our teachers and staff. The community of Yuma demonstrates on-going support for public education. The advocacy for increasing funding for public education is a positive movement in Yuma. It is an example of the collaborative spirit demonstrated every day in serving students and families.
The YUHSD Governing Board also appreciates the work of Governor Doug Ducey in his recent proposal of a 20 percent increase in teacher salaries by 2020. This plan puts an emphasis and priority on public education. We encourage the legislature to approve this plan and allow districts to determine their priorities in budgetary needs.
