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Teachers and classified staff urge board to address rising insurance premiums, stagnant pay
Summary
Multiple teachers and union representatives told the Escondido Union School District board that rising health insurance costs and a stagnant salary schedule are causing financial hardship and harming staff recruitment and retention; CSEA and EEA representatives urged prioritizing employees in budget and negotiations.
Several teachers and classified staff used the public-comment period to urge the Escondido Union School District board to prioritize employee compensation and health benefits. Colleen Goldsmith, a teacher at Rincon Middle School, described personal financial hardship tied to vehicle repairs and said the district's salary schedule has not kept pace, recounting that her union bargaining team was offered a 0% raise last year: "Because I work for EUSD and have not had a meaningful raise in years ... I had to file bankruptcy."
Other speakers echoed concerns about steep premium increases and loss of prior benefits. A CSEA representative told the board that classified staff insurance rates rose substantially and noted some classified employees work limited hours and are struggling to access affordable coverage. One board member summarized the district-wide increase as a "30.40 percent increase from last year to this year" in reference to insurance costs raised in the discussion. Commenters asked the board to consider contributing to health insurance costs and to pursue options (including information and assistance from Keenan and American Fidelity) to help employees identify subsidies or alternative plans. The board acknowledged the speakers and said it would continue conversations with labor partners and staff.
