ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - The Elk Grove Unified School District board voted to sharply increase trustee pay during its Feb. 17 meeting, the same night it approved layoffs and reassignments affecting dozens of classified positions, decisions that drew criticism from community members during public comment.

Trustee Pay

Trustees approved raising the monthly board pay from $750 to $3,000, a change permitted under Assembly Bill 1390, which allows school board members to receive compensation ranging from $600 to $4,500 per month based on a district’s average daily attendance from the prior school year. For Elk Grove Unified School District, the current maximum is $3,000 per month, with the potential to increase to $4,500 if daily attendance rises during the 2025-26 school year. The previous stipend rate had remained unchanged since 1991.

Layoffs

The vote to increase trustee pay occurred during the same meeting in which the board approved staffing reductions attributed to what the district described as “reduction or discontinuance in particular kinds ofservices” and “lack of work and/or lack of funds.”

At the start of the meeting, board president Beth Albiani announced actions taken in closed session approving a resolution to release or reassign several administrative positions for the 2026-27 school year, which begins in July. Those positions include five vice principals, an AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination, college readiness program) coordinator and a program specialist in education equity.

Additional staffing changes were approved unanimously through the consent calendar, meaning the items were approved by a single motion without public discussion. Those actions included the removal or reduction of several classified positions, including admissions representatives and technicians, computer training and support specialists, college and career counseling technicians, custodians, family school community liaisons, health assistants in special education, job developers, library technicians, mental health therapists, paraeducators, prekindergarten instructors, program assistants and educators, project implementors, substance abuse prevention educators, school office assistants, staff services technicians and a student store technician.

While the district did not specify the exact number of employees affected, the reductions were measured as a total decrease of 60.0388 full-time equivalent hours. Of that amount, 18.6825 hours are tied to positions that are currently vacant. The changes will apply across the district’s 68 schools serving communities throughout Sacramento County, including Elk Grove, Florin, Rancho Murieta, Vineyard, Wilton, Rancho Cordova and Sacramento.

The board also approved additional reductions or eliminations of classified and non-management positions tied to program changes involving English as a second language, computer basics, parent education high school diploma and high school equivalency, medical assistant and a resource teacher program coordinator.

 

“I wonder then if this board is aware that your $3,000 a month exceeds what a full-time paraeducator with 11 years of experience working in EGUSD takes home by roughly $1,000 a month,” said Jennifer Hart, who identified herself as an Elk Grove Unified School District employee, during public comment at the Feb. 17 meeting.

Public Comment

During public comment, district employee Jennifer Hart addressed the board on its pay increase, describing it as the “quadrupling” of trustee compensation. Hart said she had emailed trustees ahead of the meeting and received responses noting childcare, gas expenses and the time commitment required to serve.

While Hart said she supported making board service financially accessible, she argued the increase was unfair when compared with other district employees who work directly with students daily.

“I wonder then if this board is aware that your $3,000 a month exceeds what a full-time paraeducator with 11 years of experience working in EGUSD takes home by roughly $1,000 a month,” Hart said.

“It is no wonder that we cannot keep these jobs filled when district wages for these positions are so far below what you have deemed appropriate for public service,” she added.

California School Employees Association Elk Grove chapter president Rocio Galvan, who said she represents more than 800 district employees, also spoke against the pay increase. She highlighted the district’s more than $35 million deficit and warned that the decision could shift public expectations of the board.

“Just because you can do something does not mean you should,” Galvan said. “The respect that this community has for you is rooted in the fact that you do this for less, not more.”

“If you approve a 400% raise, you fundamentally alter that contract between you and the public; you shift this role from civic stewardship to paid politician,” Galvan said. “When you increase the pay, you drastically increase expectations.”

After public comment, Superintendent David Reilly presented the proposed revisions to the trustee compensation consistent with AB 1390, noting the fiscal impact on the district would result in a net increase of approximately $189,000. Based on discussion from the Feb. 3 meeting, the board added language stating it will consider an increase of up to 5% every two years rather than annually.

Under the revisions, student board members would receive up to $400 per month.

Board Vote

Before the final vote, Albiani said she accepted the will of the board regarding the $3,000 stipend but said Galvan raised “excellent points” that should be considered, including how increased compensation could change public perception of the board.

The board ultimately voted 6-1 to approve the stipend increase, with Albiani voting no.

Following the vote, Trustee Sean J. Yang asked Albiani whether she would accept the increased payment. Albiani said she would but plans to return a portion to the district to cover health care debt and donate money to charitable efforts.

“I just want to clarify, that’s all,” Yang said.

Trustees also approved increasing the maximum number of compensated missed meetings from two to three, including unavoidable work conflicts. Albiani, Trustee Delia Baulwin and Trustee Heidi Moore voted against the measure.

 

Rocio Galvan, president of the California School Employees Association Elk Grove chapter, opposed the Elk Grove Unified School District board of trustees’ pay increase at its Feb. 17 meeting, noting the district’s more than $35 million deficit and a shift in public expectations.

Future Increases

The board further approved language allowing the stipend to increase to $4,500 a month beginning in July if the district’s average daily attendance exceeds 60,000 during the current school year. Albiani proposed an alternative tiered structure that would increase the stipend by $500 at attendance thresholds of 60,001, 65,001 and 70,001.

Trustee Susan Davis questioned Albiani whether the pay should decrease if attendance later declines, noting the law accounts for changes in daily attendance.

Albiani responded, saying, “This is a stipend, it’s not a salary; no one in education gets paid enough for the job they do.”

Davis disagreed, describing board service as a full-time commitment that has hurt her financially. Davis also said she has encountered potential candidates who are unwilling to run because it wouldn’t be possible to maintain a full-time job while serving on the board.

“I’m not doing this for my finances. I’m doing this for the future of our board; that all we’re going to have on this board is people who are either financially privileged or have the ability and the freedom to do this without pay,” Davis said, a sentiment Yang echoed.

Trustee Michael Vargas acknowledged public concerns about increased expectations tied to higher compensation, saying trustees must demonstrate the value of that investment.

“You look at the approximate cost; that’s a salary plus benefits. That is that one AVID coordinator that we were not able to keep. There’s a real cost here,” Vargas said. “We accept that that is our responsibility moving forward.”

Albiani’s proposed amendment failed to win majority support with a 4-3 vote, with Moore and Vargas voting in favor.

The board ultimately approved the original proposal by a 5-2 vote, allowing trustees’ pay to rise to a maximum of $4,500 per month if daily attendance increases.