Members of the Ceres Unified School District board of trustees recently approved an increase in their monthly stipend to $2,000 per month – the maximum allowed by state law.
Members were receiving $500 per month but will see the 300 percent increase in their stipend effective March 31.
Assembly Bill 1390 signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom amended Education Code section 35120 to increase the maximum monthly compensation for school board and county board of education members. The new law took effect on Jan. 1
The state Legislature last adjusted limits for compensation for school districts in 1984.
Board members are also offered $1,100 per month toward their medical benefits.
CUSD trustees previously received a stipend totally $6,000 each for the year but those who accepted benefits cost the district $13,200 annually.
At the trustees’ March 12 meeting, Ceres Unified Teachers Association union president Jodee Bonales addressed the board and noted that she received no reply to emails regarding the increase. During the presentation it was noted that the total costs for the board represented one half of one percent of CUSD’s general fund.
One teacher who asked not to be identified saying she doesn’t want a target on her back, said the actions were “terrible optics” since CUSD just let go of six employees due to the Project YES program being taken over by the County Office of Education.
“It’s outrageous to me – it’s a civil service position,” said the teacher.
The board voted unanimous for the increase with some board members saying an increase is justified.
Trustee Valli Wigt, a retired teacher, said she supported the increase which she said reflects “the increased time commitment, complexity and expectations of the role.”
“The cost of this adjustment is less than half of a percent of our district budget and has no impact on student programs or staff compensation,” Wigt told the Courier. She also noted that the “goal of the legislation is to help make it possible for more community members to consider serving on school boards, which I fully support.”
Critics condemn the move at the state level saying it comes at a time when school boards are grappling with financial deficits, consolidation, uncertainty about federal funding and potential school closures.
Proponents of the bill say the lack of adequate compensation is a real problem for attracting and retaining qualified school board members.
“The job is vastly more complex than it used to be,” Troy Flint, chief information officer for the California School Boards Association told EdSource last year. “It requires a strong knowledge of finance, an aptitude for community engagement, a working knowledge of educational theory and an ability to deal with culture wars and political issues.”
