During last week’s Winslow Unified School Board meeting, academic coaching staff Briana Conatser, Leslie Powers and Marie Putnam gave a presentation that explained their plan to increase teacher retention by creating a stronger support system. This includes more engaged training inside and outside the classroom, creating more “teacher leaders” and providing mentorship and personal development to staff.
Conatser explained, “We know all of the reasons why teachers leave the profession, but research shows that the primary component that influences teachers to remain in their districts is by providing a robust support system.”
The board also unanimously passed an almost blanket raise to staff wages. This would include all positions except for part-time bus drivers, substitute teachers, and emergency substitute teachers on account of their wages being increased last year, explained Winslow High School Business Manager Shirley Lomeli.
WUSD Business Manager Casey Hancock explained their plan to increase wages by saying, “In a nutshell, classified staff would receive a $2 increase per hour and any certified salary employee would be a $4,000 a year increase to their contract amount. Since we are already halfway through the year, and because we are proposing this begins January 1, it would only be a $2,000 increase for this year, and they will receive the full $4,000 beginning next year.”
This would bring Winslow closer to the surrounding areas starting salaries. Effective Jan. 1, starting salary for contracted employees in Winslow will be $42,000, whereas in nearby Joseph City salaries begin at $42,500; Holbrook and Flagstaff are $44,000 and $47,500 respectively.
The board’s eagerness to give teachers this wage increase was best summarized when Winslow School Board President Joseph Hartnett said, “The district is in a good position because we’ve been frugal for many years—teachers have gotten a 27% raise in the six years I’ve been on the board. That’s pretty good and I’m glad we can offer more if we can. It’s all about retention and attracting the highly-qualified teachers we want.”
In other business, the governing board:
* Swore in newly-elected and reelected members Todd Wilcox and Josephine “Dodie” Montoya to the school board.
* Recognized employees of the month for November include Bonnie Brennan custodian Patrick Young and Jefferson Elementary School kindergarten teacher Allison Merritt; for December, Bonnie Brennan aide Tracy Herms and first-year teacher who works at WJHS Winslow Junior High School Sabrina Vasquez. Outstanding administrator for quarter two was Bonnie Brennan Principal Larissa Richards and the outstanding substitute of quarter two is Susan St. Germaine.
* Recognized WJHS art teacher Crista Knox, who recently was selected for the Outstanding Middle Level Art Educator award and was recognized at the Arizona Art Educator Conference. She had two eighth grade students, Juliana Jack and Mykell Torres, who won the overall award with Arizona Department of Education, and they will represent Arizona in all grades and all schools in El Paso, Texas, for nationals.
* Approved a new roofing project for WHS’s industrial arts building. EDGE construction was the lowest responsive and responsible bidder with a bid of nearly $1.3 million. As a portion of the building is used for the transportation department, the district would be responsible for $329,081.
* Reviewed 2022-2023 revised expenditure budget.
* Board member Allen Leonard recognized fellow board member Marilee Ervien for her eight years on the board. This would have been her final meeting on the board, but she was unfortunately unable to attend.
The next meeting of the Winslow Unified School District Governing Board will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 11, in the board meeting room, located at 800 N. Apache Ave.
