In Oakland's public schools, employee raises -- and program cuts -- are on the table

01-26-2011

By Katy Murphy/Oakland Tribune

Oakland principals are being asked to trim their schools' budgets for next year by 7 percent. Layoffs are a possibility, too, as the district prepares to cut its expenses by $12 million. But the budget projections to be shared at Wednesday's school board meeting come with a trade off -- a 2 percent raise for all Oakland school district employees. The proposed paycheck enhancements would cost about $2 million, according to district staff. That pay scale boost, which is built into the district's projections, comes as employee unions throughout the state are taking furloughs or other monetary concessions, and shortly after an Oakland schools parcel tax measure to raise salaries failed at the polls. "From a fiscal standpoint, it's not the most opportune time, but our teachers have gone quite awhile without significant raises," said Troy Flint, a spokesman for the school district. "Our superintendent is committed to making this happen." Oakland teachers, who are among the lowest-paid in the county, held a one-day strike last April after the school district imposed a contract that included no changes in the pay scale. The union remains strike-legal, though no further walkouts have been called. (more...)

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In Oakland's public schools, employee raises -- and program cuts -- are on the table

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