Sacramento Unified board facing potential insolvency decides not to raise pay

Sacramento City Unified’s school board withdrew a proposal to increase the monthly stipend for its members from $827 to $3,000 a month, according to The Sacramento Bee. 

The school district faces a structural deficit of approximately $221.8 million and could face state takeover if it isn’t able to remain solvent, according to the Sacramento County Office of Education. 

More than a dozen California school boards have increased their own compensation since Assembly Bill 1390 became effective earlier this year. The legislation raised the cap on board stipends to between $600 and $4,500 a month, depending on student enrollment. 

Previously, school district trustees could earn between $60 and $1,500 monthly stipends for their service, in what are typically considered part-time jobs. The law also allows school boards to increase their stipend 5% annually, even if it reaches beyond the maximum rate.

The new state maximums are meant to compensate board members adequately for the hours they spend on the job and to expand the candidate pool for school board seats.

This story was originally published by EdSource.