Some San Diego County school boards vote to give themselves 300-400% raises

Some San Diego County school districts that are grappling with budget gaps and layoffs have been giving school board members raises, which comes after decades without an increase.

Many San Diego school board members get paid a monthly stipend or allowance. The state caps this amount based on the district’s average daily attendance and just raised this cap for the first time in 42 years.

Assemblymember José Luis Solache, Jr. wrote Assembly Bill 1390 that is now law. He said it passed in order to make up for four decades worth of inflation and also attract more people to run for these seats.

It has resulted with school districts in Carlsbad, Oceanside and Cajon Valley passing trustee raises between 300-400%.

“The law is on their side,” said Mark Reagles, the district’s classified employees union president. “Just because they can, that doesn’t mean they should.”

Cajon Valley’s board voted to increase their stipend from about $600 to $2,000 a month.

Reagles said some classified staff like bus attendants and campus aides don’t make this much.

“Do I think they put in a lot of time and, and deserve a little more compensation? Sure,” he said. “But, let’s do it in better years. Not when we’re laying people off. Not when we’re talking about deficit spending.”

Brandi Krepps with Escondido Elementary Educators Association feels the same way. On Thursday night, her district board will vote on giving themselves a 400% raise.

“It’s going to be ugly,” she said. “Our site budgets have been slashed, stating that there’s budgetary constraints, yet we have money to give our school board members an additional stipend. It’s just, it’s really infuriating.”

The South Bay Union School District will be taking a vote Thursday as well. The district voted to close a school because of declining enrollment, and revenue will decide if it will give its board members a 335% raise.

In a statement, South Bay Union said the raises have already been factored into its budget and approved by the San Diego County Office of Education.

Other districts like San Diego Unified give its trustees about a $2,000 stipend. It hasn’t been decided yet if it will increase that stipend.