Teachers in the Sequoia Union High School District will get a 3.5 percent raise if a contract that union members ratified last week is approved by the school board at its meeting Wednesday night (Oct. 24).

The Sequoia District Teachers Association, which represents district teachers, librarians, counselors, nurses and others, ratified a two-year contract with just over 94 percent approval, said Edith Salvatore, the association’s president. The union and district tentatively agreed on the contract Oct. 1 before members voted on it last week.

“I always think the district can afford a little bit more, but the district does have legitimate expenses,” Salvatore said.

The district Board of Trustees will review the tentative contract in closed session at its meeting Wednesday. Superintendent Mary Streshly is recommending the board approve the contract, which it will vote on in open session later in the evening.

The pay increase would be retroactive to July 1, 2018, according to the agreement summary. The contract would run from July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2020. The union's previous contract ran from July 2016 through June 2018.

This would be the second year in a row union members have received a raise. The district granted the union a 4 percent raise in May 2017 for the 2017-18 school year.

The proposed contract includes maintenance of current benefits -- full coverage for individuals, couples or families up to the cost of the highest HMO premium offered by the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS). CalPERS manages pension and health benefits for California public employees, retirees and their families.

Sequoia teachers made $97,900 on average during the 2016-17 school year, according to California Department of Education data.

The union had to make small concessions, Salvatore said. The district has “a ways to go” to support district counselors, nurses and psychologists, who are spread thin, she said. It was important to maintain health coverage for union members, she said.

The Board of Trustees meeting starts at 6 p.m. in the Birch Conference Room in the Sanford Building at 480 James Ave. in Redwood City. Closed session is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. Board members report action taken in closed session at the start of the public meeting.

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