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Teachers and students press Washington Unified to fix late pay and close pay gap with neighboring districts
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Summary
At a packed Washington Unified board meeting, union leaders, dozens of public commenters and students urged the board to resolve recurring payroll delays and raise teacher pay to stem rising attrition and program losses. WSTA warned of a 25% attrition trend and unpaid paychecks; trustees asked staff for follow‑up.
Board members and dozens of community members spent the bulk of the Washington Unified School District board meeting pressing the district to fix payroll delays and offer more competitive teacher compensation.
The meeting opened with students and parents delivering public comment, followed by union reports that framed the issue as both urgent and systemic. "People are not getting paid on time," WSTA President Knapp told the board, adding that induction teachers and others under contract were told pay would be delayed from January to February. "I've heard lots of stories about people who now can't pay their kids' tuition," Knapp said.
Why it matters: Several speakers said late pay and comparatively lower wages are driving experienced educators to neighboring districts, forcing schools to rely on substitutes and, in some cases, cancel extracurricular programs. Becky Nyberg, a 33‑year West Sacramento educator, led chants at the meeting and said, "We want to stay, but we can't wait. Washington Unified negotiate. Washington Unified do more." Students warned classroom continuity and programs such as theater and music are at risk if the district cannot retain staff.
Union and staff statements: WSTA's presentation included union data and assertions about attrition: Knapp stated the district has lost 128 certificated employees over three years, a roughly 25% attrition rate. CSEA Riverview 168 President Ruth noted a new medical opt‑out payroll benefit for qualifying classified staff and said the chapter will pursue living‑wage priorities during negotiations.
Public comment highlights: Parents and students described direct classroom impacts. Madeline Lewis, an eighth grader representing Bridgeway Island, said she worries about her younger sister's education if teachers leave. Clayton Poor, a River City High senior who coordinates more than 40 student clubs, told trustees, "Quality extracurriculars cannot exist without quality teachers." Community members also described canceled after‑school rehearsals and unpaid stipend concerns.
Board response and next steps: Trustees acknowledged the testimony and asked staff for follow‑up: multiple trustees requested updates on the payroll timelines, clarifications about which payroll groups have outstanding checks or timesheets, and an accounting of cross‑district pay differentials. Trustee comments emphasized balancing fiscal prudence with the need to retain educators. The board did not take a specific pay‑rate vote that night but directed staff to provide additional information and updates.
What comes next: Trustees asked staff to report back on payroll corrections, an implementation timeline and the budget consequences of any proposed salary changes. Union leaders said they will continue negotiations and indicated additional labor actions remain an option if corrective steps are not taken.
