Teachers, unions press Rialto Unified board for 5% pay increase amid contract talks
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Summary
Teachers, special-education staff and union leaders addressed the board during public comment on Feb. 11, urging a 5% salary increase to match cost-of-living pressures, resolve staffing shortages and retain experienced educators. Union leaders pointed to rising district reserves and urged negotiations to prioritize frontline staff.
Board President Joseph W. Martínez opened public comment at the Feb. 11 meeting of the Rialto Unified School District Board of Education, where dozens of teachers and union representatives urged the board to approve a 5% salary increase as part of ongoing contract negotiations.
Teachers and staff described large class sizes—“many classrooms have 30 to 32 students,” as one teacher said—and said high caseloads, especially in special education, make retention difficult. “We’re asking for a 5% increase to cover cost-of-living and inflation,” a speaker told the board during the public-comment period.
Cheven Brinker, identified in public remarks as president of the Rialto teachers union, said the district’s revenue and reserves have grown over the past decade and that a 5% raise is fiscally responsible and needed to recruit and retain staff. Brinker urged the board to align compensation with the district’s expressed commitment to students and staff.
Representatives from classified and management unions reiterated that pay negotiations should focus on market competitiveness and staff retention rather than be tied to test scores. A classified-union speaker noted that tying compensation to fluctuating exam metrics would undermine morale and recruitment.
Superintendent Alejandro Álvarez acknowledged public comment and said staff would continue negotiations and follow up with union leadership. The board did not take an immediate formal vote on compensation at the meeting; labor talks will continue under the district’s negotiation schedule.
What’s next: The district’s negotiating teams and union representatives indicated bargaining will continue. Trustees suggested further dialogue and interim meetings, and public comment may be placed on future agendas as negotiations progress.