College Board approves salary and wage increase

Classified & Administrative Staff Organization (CASO) President Jodie Humphrey also discussed the compensation request. “The decision for CASO to support the 7% increase to the base directly was not entered into lightly. We understand that our organization has the most disparity in terms of salaries, I represent some folks who don’t make very much, and I represent people who make quite a bit more,” stated Humphrey. “We understand that this is a short-term solution, that can’t really have a long term solution until we see the Gallagher study, and until we address some of the processes that enable people to move up within their department.”

The Gallagher Benefit Services compensation structure and analysis study is anticipated to be available by May or June, which will then need to be followed by a great deal of discussion, according to President Chato Hazelbaker.

Another issue previously brought up was the Gallagher study would potentially reveal some faculty and/or staff are being overpaid. Humphrey addressed this saying “I don’t believe that that is an issue for CASO. But we are willing to address the concern if and when it comes up. I don’t see that as being a very good reason to change the number that we’re asking for.” Hazelbaker later added that they are not anticipating any problems with people being overpaid to be found in the study.

Humphrey stated CASO understands this is a short-term solution to just keep up with inflation rates. “We are aware of the disparities. But we also believe that this is in the best interest of every single person within CASO.” Humphrey also mentioned that this wage increase will determine whether some people sign their upcoming contracts with NPC or look for other jobs. “We are behind the 7% increase all the way.”

Board member Frank Lucero vocalized his disapproval for the overall base increase, stating “The big concern I have with this type of setup is the rich get richer and the poor poorer,” which he believes will happen with potential price cuts as a result of not enough budget in the future. Lucero stated he believes employees with a salary of $45,000 or less should get a 7% increase and a 5% given to those who are paid more than that.

Hazelbaker stated he thought that was reasonable but feels good about what the budgets will be for the next two to three years.

Chair Kristine Laughter stated she was in favor of the base increase of 7% due to the cost of living in Navajo County being high, which poses a problem when hiring. “After this, going forward I am in favor of doing more of evaluation-based compensation for our employees.”

Councilmember Derrick Leslie stated his support, but with the understanding they would have to come back to this somewhere down the line.

At the February 2023 board meeting, staff was asked to evaluate the possibility of the college providing a stipend. Staff evaluated giving a $1,000 stipend before taxes to all contract employees who made an annual salary of $45,000 or lower. The $45,000 threshold was determined using the 2022-23 salary schedules. It is an average of the mid-point of nonexempt salaries and the base salary for faculty and exempt positions. Approximately 50 employees meet this threshold, and the approximate cost would be $60,000 including taxes. It was noted for consideration but ultimately not included into the motion that was approved.

The motion to increase salaries and wages to 7% was passed with a stipulation that the college would “redline” any employees who are above the maximum salary once the compensation study is complete, meaning they would not be eligible for future pay increases.

Chair Kristine Laughter and board members Leslie and Everett Robinson voted in favor, and board member Lucero voted against the motion. Board member Elias Jouen was absent. The estimated cost of the increase is nearly $1.3 million.

During the NPC Friends and Family (NPCFF) report from Director Betsyann Wilson, she reminded the board that Arizona Gives will be April 4. According to AZgives.com, the Arizona Gives program is run by the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits and Arizona Grantmakers Forum. The event was started in 2013 to connect people with causes they believe in and build a lasting, stronger spirit of philanthropy. For more information or to donate visit www.npc.edu/az-gives.

Wilson also stated that people can select where their donation can be designated to. She mentioned that if anyone would like to donate to the creation of plaque for the Eric B. Henderson Memorial Library at the Painted Desert campus, they can designate their donation to the Taking Flight Scholarship in Memory of Dr. Eric B. Henderson. The name of the library is in memory of Henderson, who dedicated over 20 years to NPC.

English Professor Inez Schaechterle presented before the board a project her students completed in a Women’s Literature class the previous semester.

In the class, students studied a book called Anonymous was a Woman, which focuses on artistic works of women that were never credited, either to be left anonymous or to be attributed to men. Schaechterle noticed all the women mentioned in the book were white and middle to upper class. “We decided we were going to give it a modern ethos. Extend the sort of artwork that Anonymous was a Woman worked on to include modern art, three-dimensional, cooking and non-official jobs for women.”

The project, named Anonymous No More, had each student collect five images of women’s creative work and assign applicable quotes from books addressing related topics. Images featured showed women from diverse backgrounds who made things such as computers, ribbon skirts, a traditional Pueblo wedding vase and bracelets out of seeds.

One of quotes used for an image of an electrician was one from Virginia Woolf, stating “Even when the path is nominally open—when there is nothing to prevent a woman from being a doctor, a lawyer, a civil servant—there are many phantoms and obstacles, as I believe, looming in her way. To discuss and define them is I think of great value and importance; for thus only can the labor be shared, the difficulties be solved.”

Schaechterle is the only professor to provide this women’s literature class and has been doing so for three semesters.

The board acknowledged Elinor Henderson Moore as the NPC Spring 2023 Outstanding Alumni Award. Moore has spent a total of nine years at NPC and has worked in the service of others with many organizations including Holbrook High Schools Children’s Theatre Project, the Petrified Forest National Park, St. Mary’s Hospital in Tucson, Prince Middle School, the 3000 Club’s Market On The Move’s food pantry and Southeastern Regional Medical Center. “I have had a first-hand opportunity to see Elinor’s growth as a student and as a professional. Elinor’s story is deeply entwined with the positive influence Northland Pioneer College has had on her from childhood to adulthood. And, as compelling as Elinor’s journey has been, I have been most impressed by how she has deliberately invested in giving back to others through community service,” stated NPC Vice President for Learning & Student Services Dr. Michael Solomonson in a press release.

Vice President for Administrative Services (VPAS) Maderia Ellison provided a first look at the primary property tax levy and rate for 2023-24, which is recommended to be set at $1.7536, per $100,000 valuation which will generate revenues of $17 million. The current year rate is $1.7505.

Ellison also provided an 2023-24 introductory budget analysis.

Director of Construction David Huish provided a construction update, in which he stated White Mountain Campus project is still facing delays due to weather but work on the interior is still being done. He also stated that the Winslow Head Start building is complete and had its final inspection the following day and hopes to turn it over to Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG) next month.

Huish mentioned work is being done to repair damages due to flooding at one of the college’s student centers but has yet to have a completion date due to waiting for carpeting and a replacement fire alarm panel to arrive.

In other business, the board:

* Approved policies 1215 through 1296.

* Approved a new Peace Officer Certificate of Proficiency (CP), Administration of Justice Certificate of Applied Science (CAS), and Administration of Justice Associate of Applied Science (AAS), as recommended by the Instructional Council (IC).

* Approved tuition and fees for 2024-2026. The proposal states the in-state rate will increase $3 for each of the next three years, the in-district rate will now include Apache County and will be set at approximately 80% of the in-state rate, rounded to the nearest whole dollar and a rate for bachelor courses is being introduced at 150% of the in-state or out-of-state rate as applicable with no discounts. Transcript fees increased by one dollar and priority delivery costs were eliminated.