Newark Unified board approves retroactive 1.75% raise for outgoing superintendent after closed‑session review
June 17, 2026 | Newark Unified, School Districts, California
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The Newark Unified School District Board of Education voted 3–2 on June 17 to approve a retroactive 1.75% salary increase for the outgoing superintendent that the board said totals $9,450.
The decision followed prolonged public comment and a closed‑session consultation with district counsel. Public speakers, including Cindy Parks, had urged the board to observe constitutional limits on retroactive compensation, citing Article 4, Section 17 of the California Constitution and requesting that a six‑page legal opinion and the superintendent’s written justification for any extra days worked be released to the public before any funds were approved.
Board leaders said they had received a written legal opinion from district counsel during closed session, and that review supported the increase as contractually permitted. President Thomas announced the board had received the memo and called for the motion to approve the retroactive adjustment after reconvening the open meeting.
The final vote was recorded as three in favor and two opposed, with Mr. Anguano and Mr. Hill voting no. Trustees agreed to place the counsel’s six‑page opinion on a future meeting agenda for potential public release and discussed making supplementary documentation available to the public.
Union leaders and staff representatives had pressed the board for broader transparency. Maria Huffer, president of CSEA Newark Chapter 208, reminded trustees that her bargaining unit has been operating under an expired contract and said members remain without pay increases given to other groups. Rachel Bloom, president of the Newark Teachers Association, raised concerns during public comment about perceived inconsistencies in how pay adjustments were handled across bargaining groups and administrative ranks.
Several community members characterized the vote as a moment that raised questions about process. Cindy Parks urged the board to follow “the letter of the law” and make any supporting legal analysis and written justifications public. The board’s majority maintained that counsel’s opinion authorized the adjustment and said they would agendaize the legal memo for formal public release.
The board separately moved earlier in the meeting to approve a 10‑day per diem payout for the outgoing superintendent; the public portion of that action was handled before the closed‑session review on the 1.75% item. Board members said the per‑diem paperwork would be made public.
The board concluded the meeting after several additional governance and operational items, including budget adoption and presentations on facilities and technology.
The decision followed prolonged public comment and a closed‑session consultation with district counsel. Public speakers, including Cindy Parks, had urged the board to observe constitutional limits on retroactive compensation, citing Article 4, Section 17 of the California Constitution and requesting that a six‑page legal opinion and the superintendent’s written justification for any extra days worked be released to the public before any funds were approved.
Board leaders said they had received a written legal opinion from district counsel during closed session, and that review supported the increase as contractually permitted. President Thomas announced the board had received the memo and called for the motion to approve the retroactive adjustment after reconvening the open meeting.
The final vote was recorded as three in favor and two opposed, with Mr. Anguano and Mr. Hill voting no. Trustees agreed to place the counsel’s six‑page opinion on a future meeting agenda for potential public release and discussed making supplementary documentation available to the public.
Union leaders and staff representatives had pressed the board for broader transparency. Maria Huffer, president of CSEA Newark Chapter 208, reminded trustees that her bargaining unit has been operating under an expired contract and said members remain without pay increases given to other groups. Rachel Bloom, president of the Newark Teachers Association, raised concerns during public comment about perceived inconsistencies in how pay adjustments were handled across bargaining groups and administrative ranks.
Several community members characterized the vote as a moment that raised questions about process. Cindy Parks urged the board to follow “the letter of the law” and make any supporting legal analysis and written justifications public. The board’s majority maintained that counsel’s opinion authorized the adjustment and said they would agendaize the legal memo for formal public release.
The board separately moved earlier in the meeting to approve a 10‑day per diem payout for the outgoing superintendent; the public portion of that action was handled before the closed‑session review on the 1.75% item. Board members said the per‑diem paperwork would be made public.
The board concluded the meeting after several additional governance and operational items, including budget adoption and presentations on facilities and technology.
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