YUHSD sees increase in teacher retention

The Yuma Union High School District ( YUHSD ) had 84 percent of its certified teachers return for the 2019-2020 school year, leading to a six percent increase from the year before.

YUHSD said it took almost a decade of having to replace 25 to 30 percent of its certificated staff, and that number slowly decreased over the past three years. However, 84 percent of the 445 certified teachers returned in August.

“I believe it is a combination of things,” YUHSD Executive Director of Human Resources Wanda Ellis said. ” There was a 10 percent pay increase from 2018 to 2019, more money than ever paid out from Proposition 301 monies, and our work culture is improving across the district.

Yuma High School math teacher Tish Malone, who is entering her 24th year in the district, said the pay and insurance offered by the district is part of it, but there is something more important.

“As far as I am concerned the kids in Yuma make it all worthwhile,” Malone said.

Over the past three years, YUHSD provided certificated staff members a 22 percent wage increase, at least 5 percent more is to come before the 2020-2021 school year.

YUHSD said overall the 27 percent increase includes the state od Arizona’s mandated 20 percent raise, and the district included 7 percent more.

Proposition 301 funds were said to generate $9,400 in additional pay for certificated staff in the 2018-2019 school year.