Union president says Woodland staff underpaid, urges board to act on pay and communication

Shelly Carlson, an elementary interventionist and newly elected union president, used the public comment period at the Dec. 16 Woodland CCSD 50 board meeting to press administrators and trustees on teacher pay, staff morale and contract negotiations.

"We are one of the lowest paid districts in the area," Carlson said, and criticized a board proposal in 2025 that she said would have extended the contract by a year with unequal increases. She told the board a union vote on an offer that included that extension was rejected by 96% of members.

Carlson also said the district "has over 90,000,000 in reserves," and argued the two facts—high reserves and low pay—have hurt retention and recruitment. "Your silence speaks volumes," she told the board, saying union leaders have repeatedly sought engagement and received little response.

Board policy was read aloud before public comment; the chair reminded speakers the board would not respond during the comment period and members provided no immediate rebuttal on the record.

The union president asked the board to be accountable and to take action on certified teacher pay that she said currently falls below a state-minimum base schedule. Carlson also referenced two recent board resignations and framed them as reasons the public may be concerned.

The board did not take action during the meeting on Carlson’s requests; members acknowledged her remarks and the chair closed public comment. Administration and board follow-ups were not recorded in the meeting audio during the public comment segment.