Submission 1
| REQUEST TO ADDRESS BOARD |
| Select One |
| Non-Agenda Item |
| Name |
| Dan McAlees |
| Choose One |
| Current Staff |
| Date |
| 07/20/2023 |
| Subject |
| Union |
| Comments |
| I wish to thank the Board for allowing me to present some of my thoughts. My name is Dan McAlees and I am a high school teacher for ASD Life Skills students. I have been teaching for 30 plus years. During this time I have seen staff have to go through some difficult situations with very limited support. This has led to staff retention problems and low work moral. I feel the Arizona State School for the Deaf and Blind Education Association (ASDBEA) would help with retaining staff and improve moral. By knowing that having a dedicated support group for staff not only on campus but representing our needs with the legislator is a positive moral builder. Also ASDBEA and AEA can work with ASDB as a team when working with our state legislation and their representatives for the agency’s concerns and needs as well. I hope the Board will recognize ASDBEA and work together for the good of the staff and ASDB agency. Thanks for your time, Dan McAlees |
Submission 2
| REQUEST TO ADDRESS BOARD |
| Select One |
| Agenda Item |
| Name |
| Soren Mickelsen |
| Choose One |
| Current Staff |
| Date |
| 07/18/2023 |
| Subject |
| Item(s) 6.01 and 6.02 / Human Resources |
| Comments |
| Dear Board Members: Thank you for your time today. I would like to make a public comment regarding action points 6.01 and 6.02 addressing schedule changes for pay as well as proposed salary increases. Action point 6.01 seeks to make a conglomerate of therapeutic staff on one Related Services Pay Scale reflecting now social workers, educational audiologists, psychologists, amongst Occupational, Physical, and Speech therapists. As a related service provider, my steps for pay have been recalibrated. We will soon be recognized for years of service with the agency, which I appreciate very much – now we can move up steps. I wanted to share that during the recalibration process, there are staff whose rate either did not change or went below what they currently make. For those in this situation, they would need to acquire more years of experience before their income increases. Historically, a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) was the only way related service providers could increase their salary. Action point 6.02 details plans for proposed salary increases. Teachers, some certified staff, and other part time / full time will be receiving a COLA – and it is much deserved. Related services and other certified staff will not receive a COLA due to our recalibrated steps. While the agency is moving in the right direction, I would further challenge it to understand that the cost of living goes up, and somewhat indefinitely for everyone. COLAs recognize this and when offered, communicate a sense of gratitude for doing a job we all love to do. ASDB has a clear goal in bringing forth the best when educating our children who are deaf/hard-of-hearing/visually impaired/Deafblind. ASDB could equally have a clear goal about committing to their employee’s financial well-being. Is it still possible to consider extending the COLA to all certified and non-certified staff whether full-time or part-time, including related service providers? I appreciate your time to review my comment. And thank you for your commitment to our community be being here today. Kindly, Soren Mickelsen |