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La Cañada teachers union asks board for immediate 1.5% pay increase after unaudited surplus
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Summary
The La Cañada Teachers Association president told the board the district's unaudited actuals show a recurring surplus and asked the board to give teachers a 1.5% immediate salary increase to offset higher health insurance costs and rising workloads.
Mandy Redfern, president of the La Cañada Teachers Association, used public comment time to urge the La Cañada Unified School District governing board to grant a 1.5% immediate salary increase for teachers, arguing the district’s unaudited fiscal reports show more revenue and lower expenditures than previously presented.
Redfern said many teachers are receiving monthly paychecks that are roughly $50 less than last year because out‑of‑pocket health insurance costs have risen while salary increases were limited to 0.25% in recent negotiations. She cited figures from August unaudited actuals showing increased revenue and lower expenditures in multiple recent years and argued the district could afford an immediate 1.5% adjustment that would align with a raise the superintendent received.
Why it matters: Teacher salary and benefits are central to recruitment and retention. The association framed its request as urgent — saying educators are falling further behind with each delayed increase — and tied the ask to the district’s own financial reports.
Details cited by the union president - Redfern said the district’s August unaudited actuals showed a $747,541 increase in revenue and $973,324 less in expenditures than previously budgeted for the fiscal year 2024–25, and she cited similar patterns in prior years. She argued those variances leave fiscal room for a small salary increase to address rising health-care costs. - The LCTA asked for an immediate 1.5% across‑the‑board increase to take effect in the current pay period rather than being delayed to the next fiscal year.
Board response and context Board members thanked the speakers and acknowledged the union’s request. No formal board action was taken at the meeting; board members and staff noted budget items and transfers that will be reviewed as part of ongoing financial oversight and upcoming budget work.
Ending Redfern said the modest 1.5% increase would “signal that the district values and respects the people who work here” and urged the board to move quickly. District staff did not commit to a decision at the meeting and noted standard budget review processes will continue.
