Teachers and those in management at the William S. Hart Union High School District are receiving a 4 percent on-schedule increase retroactive to last July, however, some are arguing that the increase is not enough. 

During the William S. Hart Union High School District governing board meeting last Wednesday, an on-schedule 4 percent raise for teachers and staff was announced, but some educators argue that the expected increase is not enough to support them.

“Right now, we’ve got about 100 unfilled positions and many of those are coming from people who are actively leaving their ranks here at the district,” said Jordan Meraz, a communications officer with the California School Employees Association. “We are losing valuable employees. People with experience, people with institutional knowledge that’s being lost. Nearly our entire payroll department has turned over recently.”

Natalia Blumke, who was recently recognized as one of the go-to members of her department and someone who has all the answers, according to Meraz, completed her final shift last Friday. 

“She has accepted a position at another location, which is going to give her better compensation,” Meraz said. “From my own department, we have lost Miguel Diaz, who you may remember has provided technical support here at our board meeting in the past. I can speak with a bit of authority on Miguel, he is a fantastic employee, he was a fantastic and skilled tech, and he did not want to leave. He agonized over that for quite some time, but in the end rising inflation and the cost associated with his life as it develops, were simply too much.”

Although hesitant to leave the Hart District, Diaz has moved on to utilize his same skills and expertise at California State University Northridge, which offered him an 11 percent pay raise, according to Meraz.

“We’re demoralized, as a union,” Meraz said. “We’re demoralized by what’s being offered back to us.”

With gas prices at an all-time high and inflation increasing far past the increase of wages, Hart District teachers retroactive to last July are receiving a 4 percent raise. 

“The District and the Hart District Teachers Association (HDTA) have agreed upon terms for contract negotiations for the 2021/22 academic year, which includes a 4 percent increase to unit members’ salary schedules retroactively to July 1, 2021,” read the meeting agenda. 

The wage increase applies to all confidential and management employees, as well as to the superintendent’s contract, according to the meeting agenda. 

The raise should result in approximately $5 million a year in extra expenditures for the district until the 2023-24 school year. 

For more details, click here. 

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