Carlsbad teachers urge trustees to reconsider big trustee pay increase, cite strain on educators

Rachel Marino Wat, identified in the meeting as the teachers union president, told the Board of Trustees that trustees voted this year to increase annual trustee stipends from $4,800 to $24,000, a move she said ‘‘hurts teachers’’ and outstrips local salary norms. "This board gave themselves the $24,000 maximum, the same pay as districts with 25,000 students, but Carlsbad is only barely above the 10,000 student threshold," she said, arguing an enrollment‑based pro‑rated stipend closer to $15,300 would be fairer.

A young teacher, Angela Lee of Carlsbad High School, followed with a personal account of living paycheck to paycheck in San Diego, describing summer jobs, multiple part‑time positions and the financial strain of teaching. She told trustees a meaningful pay increase would ‘‘directly transform’’ her finances and urged the board to consider teacher pay in the next year’s budget.

Marino Wat highlighted the contrast between trustees’ new stipend and existing extracurricular stipends: she noted advisers and athletic directors—10‑month roles that often require large out‑of‑contract time—receive roughly $5,751.30. That comparison, she said, underlines a messaging problem for staff: "The message you sent to teachers in January is that your work is worth less."

The board did not take action on the public comments during the meeting; those remarks were received during the closed‑session public‑comment period and at the start of the evening. Trustees and district staff have repeatedly said compensation decisions are part of broader labor and budget processes; the board later approved several negotiated pay items for union and unrepresented groups during the meeting.

Why it matters: Teacher recruitment and retention are sensitive to pay and working conditions. Public testimony at the board meeting framed trustee compensation as both a budgetary choice and a public‑relations issue that could affect morale. The union’s remarks increase pressure on trustees to explain pay decisions or adjust priorities in the coming budget cycle.

What's next: The board approved several negotiated salary adjustments later in the meeting for bargaining units and unrepresented groups; trustees and staff also directed continued discussion of budget and LCAP priorities. Community members who raised pay concerns can expect follow‑up via district budget reports and future negotiations.