Gilroy board approves one‑time 3% payment for management after contentious public comments and a mixed vote

The Gilroy Unified School District Board of Education voted Thursday to approve a one‑time, off‑schedule 3% cash payment retroactive to July 1 and increased district medical contributions for certificated and classified management, confidential employees, yard duty staff and the superintendent’s office.

The district’s chief financial officer presented the disclosure and said the current‑year cost of extending the one‑time payment and medical increases to those groups is about $495,100, with ongoing medical costs of roughly $33,582. Board documents and staff emphasized an automatic trigger in several bargaining agreements that would convert the onetime payment into an ongoing increase if the state’s "settle‑up" Prop 98 funds are enacted into law.

Why it mattered: The vote came amid extended public comment from teachers, paraeducators and students who asked the board to prioritize teacher pay, smaller class sizes and special‑education funding rather than bonuses for management. Several speakers described low morale, the difficulty of affording housing in the region, and concerns that a 3% flat payment benefits higher‑paid administrators far more in dollars than classroom staff.

"When you ask for teachers to receive a raise, we are asking you to value the people who dedicate their lives to helping students succeed every single day," said Zach Souza, a Christopher High School senior in public comment.

Board action and tally: After discussion and trustee remarks about comparability and optics, the board approved the management/non‑represented payment by roll call with six votes in favor, zero opposed and one abstention (Trustee Jennifer Delbono). Earlier in the meeting the board had approved tentative agreements with the district’s CSEA and paraeducator bargaining units – each by unanimous roll call votes.

Board context: District staff framed the onetime payments as part of a set of public disclosures required under AB 1200 for bargaining agreements and related management compensation, and they noted the agreements carry conditional language that could make payments ongoing if state funding materializes. Trustees cited competing obligations: recruiting and retaining administrators and school leaders, while acknowledging strong community support for higher teacher pay.

What’s next: Trustees directed staff to separate future agenda items on compensation for specific groups (for example, yard duty and middle management) so the board can review categories independently. Meanwhile, teachers and parents signaled they plan to press the district and state lawmakers for more sustained funding for salaries and special‑education services.

Votes at a glance: the board approved tentative agreements with CSEA and the Gilroy Federation of Paraeducators by unanimous roll calls earlier in the meeting, and later approved the management/non‑represented 3% payment by a 6‑0‑1 (yes/no/abstain) roll call.