The The La Honda Pescadero Unified School District (LHPUSD) have made many sacrifices over the last few years, including a voluntary freeze in their salaries for the 2004-05 school year. They are now asking for a raise that the school officials say that they can't afford.
The starting salary for new LHPUSD teachers is $30,641 [correction: $34,000 - see comment], which is much below statewide standards, and is supplemented by a state education fund. Declining class size is one important factor that has affected the budget.
The LHPUSD teachers have requested a 5 percent raise for the remainder of the year and another 5 percent increase for next year, however the district has only offered a 1 percent increase this year and a 2 percent increase next year.
Teachers are hoping that money raised by local educational foundations and a school parcel tax would help the situation. The need to make more budget cuts pressured Board of Trustees President Maile Springer to quit recently.
Information from Inside Bay Area, http://www.insidebayarea.com/search/ci_3565370
Toby McLeod just informed The Voice that "the San Mateo County Times article that your information comes from was incorrect -- the starting salary for new teachers in this district is $34,000 for the school year." (Thanks Toby)
Posted by: Bob Dougherty | March 06, 2006 at 12:33 PM