Classified workers urge Washington Unified to use surplus for raises as bargaining continues

Classified employees, union representatives and teachers pressed the Washington Unified School District board on March 27 to use unrestricted surplus funds to boost pay and stop staff departures.

At public comment, paraeducators, bus drivers and other classified staff described low take-home pay, unmanageable caseloads and the difficulty of retaining experienced workers. "I've been here 10 years and until this month I had 55 cents in my account," said Kay Savory, a paraeducator, describing out-of-pocket hardship and why some workers are job-hunting despite loving their students. Ruth Pagano, another classified employee, told trustees that the district's multi-year projection shows more than $20 million projected to remain unspent next year above required reserves and called that "unacceptable" if staff pay remains unchanged.

Bargaining-team speakers made similar arguments during a staffing presentation earlier in the meeting. Stephen, a teacher who identified himself as part of the bargaining team, said many colleagues are commuting into the district and taking pay cuts compared with urban Sacramento districts, sometimes by about $10,000 a year. "We are losing teachers," he said, urging the board to compare West Sacramento to urban districts rather than poorer Yolo County peers.

Michael Gandera, representing Riverview 168 (the negotiating team), asked trustees to review transfers and unassigned reserves, noting the board had moved $16.25 million into a budget stabilization fund (Fund 17). "Show me where you spend your money and I'll show you what you value," he said, urging the board to demonstrate that staff are valued through compensation and retention investments.

District staff emphasized that the second interim financial report the board certified remained "positive" under state rules and that some funds are restricted or assigned for specific uses. Chief Business Officer Monique Soval and Director of Fiscal Services Billy Duba told the board they are still refining revenue and expense projections, accounting for expiring grants and statutory reserve requirements. Duba said the multi-year projection assumes current salary schedules and that additional salary increases would change the forecast.

Trustees asked staff for more detailed breakdowns of the district's fund balances, how much of the projected operating costs are salaries that would continue in other roles, and what portion of the surplus is truly unrestricted. Several trustees proposed convening budget advisory conversations with labor partners and community representatives to weigh competing priorities.

The board did not take immediate action on pay demands during the March 27 session; however, trustees directed staff to provide budget follow-ups and said union negotiation meetings and budget advisory discussions will inform future decisions. The second interim report certifying the district's financial position as "positive" was adopted that evening as a separate action item.

Next steps: trustees asked staff to provide a clearer account of unassigned balances, the components of the budget stabilization transfer and scenarios showing the fiscal impact of potential salary increases so the board and bargaining teams can negotiate from the same set of numbers.