A temper tantrum by Tucson Unified School District Governing Board member Michael Hicks led to a vote on Tuesday to grant raises to nearly all employees . After a heated and lengthy discussion, Hicks demanded a vote on how to spend money intended for teacher raises.
Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) is expected to receive an additional 15,095,903 this year as a result of legislation passed last month. Arizona legislators intended $11,295,903 to be used for teacher pay raises, and $3,800,000 to be used on capital projects.
Hicks forced a vote on one of the four spending options proposed by Superintendent Gabriel Trujillo. Hicks was joined by Board members Kristel Foster and Adelita Grijalva in voting in favor of an option that granted white collar workers a raise.
In opposing the spending plan, Board president Dr. Mark Stegeman questioned whether the proposals ignored legislative intent. Stegeman expressed concern that the Legislature would be skeptical of granting districts more money in the future. Board member Rachel Sedgwick joined Stegeman in opposing the plans. Sedgwick had hoped the administration would develop a plan that reflected legislative intent while providing an increase for non-administrative employees.
“The Board on a 3-2 vote accepted Scenario 2,” according to one TUSD budget expert. “And here is where the District and Board very well may have made a huge mistake. Scenario 2 included the $3.8 million in “DAA” District Additional Assistance which the Legislature intended for capital items. There are two problems with that; 1) the Board used that for all other work group pay raises not knowing if the money would be allocated annually from the state, and 2) that was not intended from the State to be used as Maintenance and Operations (M&O). It was to be used for capital needs. The State will not forget TUSD continues to do as they please and then always ask for more money. Once again they bit the hand that feeds them. Mark Stegeman is totally right on this point.”
During a trip to Tucson earlier this month, Governor Doug Ducey said he was disappointed that Trujillo planned to use the money meant for teacher raises to increase the wages of administrators.
The decision to use all of the funds on staff will prevent the District, which is running at a deficit, from making much needed repairs to aging facilities.
Employee Agreements
AFSCME
Memorandum of Understanding for Blue Collar Employees 2016-2018
Blue Collar Titles:
Custodian (FS: 530016)
Custodian / Grounds Maintenance Worker
Grounds Maintenance Worker I
Transportation (Bus) Monitor
Bindery Helper
Custodian/Delivery Worker
Food Services Delivery Driver
Food Services Warehouse Technician
Grounds Maintenance Worker II
Roving Grounds Maintenance Worker
Warehouse/Delivery Worker
Automotive Parts Clerk
Grounds Maintenance Pesticide Technician
Health Dental Worker
Property Control Warehouse Technician
Roving Custodian
Warehouse Technician – EPF
Appliance Technician / Roving Custodian – EPF
Automotive Data Control Technician
Bus Driver – Transportation
Custodian II
Custodial Engineering Technician
Fleet Service Technician – Transportation
School Safety Dispatcher
Auto Parts Technician
Grounds Equipment Repair Technician
Printer I
Print Production Clerk
Property Control Warehouse Technician, Lead
Warehouse/Delivery Worker, Lead
Audio Visual Technician
Asbestos Abatement Technician
Buildings & Grounds Equipment Operator
Glazier
Grounds Equipment Mechanic, Lead
PE Equipment Repair Technician
Pre-Press Specialist
Printer II
Sheet Metal Fabricator
Transportation Dispatch Support Technician
Upholsterer
Warehouse Technician, Lead.
Assistant Building Maintenance Engineer
Cement Finisher
Furniture Shop Technician
Maintenance Technician
Musical Instrument Repair Technician
Painter
Pre-Press Production Technician
Preventive Maintenance Technician
Surface Material Technician
Transportation Liaison
Transportation Routing Technician
Uniformed Security Officer
Business Machine Technician
Fabrication and Maintenance Technician
Fleet & Heavy Equipment Mechanic
Locksmith
Plant Operator
Building Maintenance Engineer (includes Rovers)
Business Machine Technician, Lead
Carpenter
Fire&Safety Systems Technician
Electrician
Fleet and Heavy Equipment Mechanic II
Plumber – Irrigation
Plumber – Facilities
Plumber – Welder
Roofer
Carpenter, Lead
Fire&Safety Systems Technician, Lead
Food Service Equipment Specialist
EMCS Technician
HVAC Mechanic
CWA
Agreement with CWA for the Supervisory/Professional Employee Unit – 2014-2018
CWA Job Titles:
Apprentice Programmer (Starting Pay)
Campus Monitor, Lead
Communications Specialist (Bilingual)
Crossing Guard Coordinator
Custodial / Facilities Inspector – FM
Assistant Unit Manager
Media Specialist
Psychology Intern
FS Manager I
Environ/Engineering Administrative Specialist
FS Manager II
Speech Language Pathology Assistant
Uniformed Security Shift Sergeant
Accountant, Staff
Community Education Coordinator
Irrigation Foreman
Program Budget Technician
Grounds Maintenance Foreman
Staff Accountant
Transportation Dispatcher
Apprentice Coordinator – EFP
Building Maintenance Engineer Foreman
Curator of Artifacts/Exhibits
Facilities Systems Engineer Foreman
HVAC Foreman
Preventive Maintenance Foreman
Trans Routing & Scheduling Analyst
Counseling Intern
Educational Interpreter
Graphic Designer – Communications
Planning Technician
Print Shop Production Coordinator
Procurement Specialist
School Safety Supervisor
School Safety Supervisor Emergency Management
Student Equity Compliance Liaison
Translator / Interpreter
Traffic Safety Supervisor
13 61036 Computer Systems Specialist
Fire / Safety Compliance Coordinator
FS Supervisor Intern
Graphic Designer, Sr.
Procurement Agent
School Safety Field Supervisor
School Safety Investigator
FS Nutrition Education Coordinator
FS Financial Accountant
Telecommunications Specialist
Network Systems Integration Manager
ELI
Non-Bargaining Employees
Employee Agreement for Non-Bargaining Employees – 2017-2018
(Includes Exempt Administrators, Exempt Coordinators, and Supervisory/Confidential)
Non-Bargaining Employees Titles:
Courier
Human Resources Assistant
Administrative Assistant-Legal
Custodian Student and Public Records
Human Resources Associate
Multi-Media Technician
Staff Assistant I to Governing Board
HR Benefits Associate
Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent
Program Budget Technician I
Employee Relations Assistant
Legal Secretary
Executive Assistant
Executive Assistant – Lead Legal
Executive Assistant to Deputy Superintendent
Legal Assistant
HR Analyst
Senior Staff Assistant I to Governing Board
HR Analyst Sr.
Executive Assistant to Superintendent
Senior Staff Assistant II to Governing Board
Supervisory/Confidential Exempt Titles (CCE)
Accounting Analyst
Accounts Payable Manager
Budget Analyst, Senior
Planner
Senior Accounting Manager
TEA Certified
2017-2018 TEA Consensus Agreement
TEA Classified