Teachers, staff tell Oakrove board district can afford higher pay as public comment fills meeting

Oakrove — Dozens of teachers, classified employees and parents urged the Oakrove School District board on May 8 to offer substantially higher pay and restore benefits that speakers said have eroded in recent years. Public commenters repeatedly cited the district’s reserve balances and urged a larger contract proposal to retain staff.

The comment period, which filled the agenda’s public-comment slot, featured recurring themes: a bargaining proposal teachers described as effectively a pay cut, rapidly rising out-of-pocket health-insurance costs, and overcrowded special-education classrooms. "The counter offer we recently made was not only disappointing, it's an insult to the work of educators," said Tiffany Palini, one of several classroom teachers who spoke.

Why it matters: Teachers and staff said recruitment and retention are already strained in the high-cost Bay Area, and many speakers tied compensation directly to student outcomes. Several commenters pointed to the district’s reported reserves as evidence there is room to increase bargaining offers. Bob Prola, speaking as a community member, summarized a common refrain: "together we rise," he said, then urged district leaders to make that theme tangible for employees.

What speakers said: Multiple presenters offered specific fiscal data and classroom examples. Bob Prola and others referenced district reserve figures when urging higher raises and a larger benefits contribution; Palini and other teachers described monthly health costs that have grown substantially. Special-education teachers told trustees that some special-day-class rooms this year have operated with 15 students and limited in-class support. "I've spent the entire year with 15 students," said Mary Kusto, a special-day-class teacher, describing the workload that teachers say does not come with extra compensation.

Union and staff perspective: Union representatives in the audience reinforced the call for a more generous offer. One union leader noted that, at current proposed rates, a multi-year 1% increase would amount to a real-terms pay cut if inflation and rising employee contributions to benefits are not addressed.

Board response and next steps: The board did not take action on bargaining during the meeting. The public-comment record and union remarks were taken for the district’s negotiations process; the bargaining teams are expected to continue negotiations outside the public meeting. The superintendent and district negotiators will return to the board as required by the collective-bargaining timetable.