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Cypress trustees decline immediate pay hike, agree to revisit after staff COLA decision
Summary
After hours of public comment and trustee debate, the board rejected a motion to raise trustees’ monthly stipend to the maximum allowed under recent state law and instead voted to delay consideration until the district can offer a COLA to certificated and classified staff.
The Cypress School District Board on Dec. 11 considered a motion to increase trustees’ monthly compensation to the maximum amount now allowable under state law (a statutory change cited on the agenda), but the original motion failed after extended public comment from teacher and classified staff representatives urging the board to defer raises while the district faces budget pressures.
Union speakers Candy Early (Association of Cypress Teachers) and Kelly Frazier (CSEA Chapter 325) urged the trustees to postpone any stipend increase while staff and the district manage proposed cuts and a tight budget outlook. Trustee Needham presented comparative and inflation‑adjusted context, noting historic teacher salaries and the relative increase that would correspond to parity with staff; other trustees argued the increase could broaden the pool of viable candidates for board service.
Following the failed motion, trustees approved a substitute motion to defer further consideration of trustee compensation until ‘‘such time as the district is able to provide a COLA increase to certificated and classified staff’’ or when staff salary schedule increases are recommended. The substitute motion carried by voice vote.
The board’s action leaves in place the current stipend level until staff salary actions (or a future board decision) prompt reconsideration. Trustees asked staff to bring the topic back concurrently with contract‑level salary proposals to maintain parity and public trust.
