Sedona-Oak Creek School District teachers and classified staff are required to either accept or decline their contracts for the 2015-16 school year by Friday, May 1 – a date that, according to sources within the district, will mark a large exodus of staff from the area.
“I am aware of several teachers not renewing their contracts. I can say that it seems to be a larger amount than in past years,” departing West Sedona kindergarten through fifth grade Principal Lisa Hirsch said April 29. “Some years are bigger than others. This is a big year and that includes all three schools and the district office.”

Hirsch said that the issue of teacher wages continues to influence such decisions.

“It’s always been the biggest reason — it’s the money,” she said. “The second reason is that life happens. But to blame any one factor is misguided.”

SOCSD board member Bobbie Surber stated April 29 that she has received no official notification of how many staff members are leaving the district, but that she has heard upwards of 20 staff members will be resigning.

“I have had a few staff members share with me their reasons for departing and again it is overwhelmingly low wages as the reason for their departure from our school district,” she stated.

To read the full story, see the Friday, May 1, edition of the Sedona Red Rock News.