Arizona’s Prop 123 will determine how big of a raise teachers in the Peoria Unified School District get next year.
This week, the Governing Board approved a pair of compensation packages - one if Prop 123 passes and one if it doesn’t.
PUSD is projected to get about $7.2 million from Prop 123. If it passes, teachers get a 12.14 percent raise next year. If it doesn’t, they get 4.65 percent.
Decreased funding has made it harder to give raises, which has made it tougher to retain teachers, said PUSD Communications Director District Spokeswoman Danielle Airey.
“We have had quite a bit of attrition over the past few years,” Airey said. “What’s more worrisome is that we hear from local colleges and universities that they’re seeing decreases in those who are wanting to go into the field of education.”
The fate of Prop 123 will also impact the size of raises for PUSD administrators and support staff. Whether it passes or fails, those groups will get less of an increase than teachers.