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Pacifica board approves superintendent contract and waives California credential requirement amid staff backlash
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Summary
The Pacifica School District board on Feb. 11 approved a three-year employment contract for Dr. Bowman and a waiver of California credential requirements while an out-of-state review is pending, drawing sustained public comment from unions and parents who urged prioritizing classroom staff over administrative pay.
The Pacifica School District Board of Trustees on Feb. 11 voted to ratify a three-year employment contract for Dr. Bowman and to waive California credential requirements while the candidate's out-of-state credential review is pending.
The board approved compensation for the 2026 portion of the contract set at $238,000 for the 2026 school year with automatic 2% step increases in subsequent years; trustees removed a proposed monthly car allowance before the final vote. A motion to approve the contract was made and seconded and the measure passed 3–0.
The vote followed extended public comment from teachers and classified staff unions, who argued the timing was inappropriate while the district pursues staff reductions and delayed bargaining over compensation. LSEA and CSEA representatives said negotiations had stalled, accused the district of insufficient bargaining authority at recent sessions and warned of potential unfair-labor filings with the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) if talks did not resume.
Why it matters: Speakers and union leaders stressed that the district is facing budget shortfalls and enrollment declines and urged the board to prioritize classroom positions and site-level staff. Several commenters highlighted that district administrative salaries and newly added district office positions had increased even as proposals to cut classified positions were presented to the board.
Supporters and staff described the contract as necessary to secure district leadership. The board also adopted a separate resolution to waive state credential requirements under Education Code provisions that allow local boards to grant temporary waivers while the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) completes an out-of-state clearance review.
What happened next: The board approved the waiver by roll call (motion passed 3–0). Trustees discussed but did not finalize internal adjustments to the contract's stipend language during the meeting; board members indicated possible adjustments to salary and benefits had been negotiated prior to the vote and that the final approved package reflected those changes.
Board statements and public concerns: Multiple speakers said the timing of the contract and its magnitude—described in public comment as an increase over prior superintendent pay—undercut morale when bargaining with certificated and classified staff remained unresolved. Board members debated alternative salary figures during public discussion, and legal counsel reminded trustees about limits on closed-session discussion of compensation. The meeting record shows trustees considered lowering the salary from earlier figures mentioned in the readout before approving the $238,000 figure.
Next steps: The superintendent contract is effective beginning March 1 (pro rata through June 30, 2026) per the contract summary presented to the board. The credential-waiver resolution requires the district to monitor and report on the CTC status as the superintendent transitions into the role.
Sources: Public comments and board discussion during the Feb. 11 board meeting; district staff presentation and oral motion and vote recorded during the meeting.
