Fresno Unified trustees could earn up to $90,000 a year — a nearly 500% increase — if a proposed California law passes.

The legislation, AB 1390 authored by Assemblymember Jose Luis Solache, D-Lynwood, would allow school districts — local and county boards — to raise monthly compensation by five times the current amounts.

Solache, in documents explaining the bill, said overseeing school boards “is a demanding role.”

“While the responsibility of our school boards has grown exponentially in recent years, the levels of compensation limits have not been adjusted,” Solache said. The rates have not changed in the law since 1984.

Law’s Goal: Attract More School Board Candidates

Another goal, Solache said, is to help encourage current and new candidates to run for school boards.

“I want to make sure that more younger folks that are not as privileged can serve,” Solache said during a Wednesday hearing of the Senate education committee. The education committee voted 5-0 for the bill with two abstentions.

The bill sailed through the Assembly on a 61-2 vote, and if passed by the ed committee, would be heard next by the Senate appropriations committee.

Local Assemblymembers Jasmeet Bains, D-Delano, Joaquin Arambula, D-Fresno, and Esmeralda Soria, D-Fresno, voted in favor; David Tangipa, R-Clovis, Alexandra Macedo, R-Tulare, and Stan Ellis, R-Bakersfield, did not cast votes.

Fresno Unified, through a letter from Superintendent Misty Her, is listed as an official supporter of the bill.

“The current limits make board service financially inaccessible to many capable community members, especially those from underrepresented and working-class backgrounds,” Her wrote. “This bill will not only help retain experienced and effective board members but also broaden the pool of candidates willing to serve.”

The bill has no formal opposition.

How Much Do Trustees Make Now?

Compensation maximums are already set by state law, depending on the size of the district. The rate for Fresno Unified is $1,500 a month, but the law also allows annual 5% raises above the maximum. AB 1390 would raise the maximum rate five fold to $7,500 a month.

Raises would continue to require local school board approval.

After this story first published, Fresno Unified said trustee compensation is actually more than first reported — $2,010 a month. The board approved annual 5% raises in 2019, the next due on July 1.

[In a previous version of this story, Trustee Susan Wittrup said Fresno Unified trustees currently earn $1,735 a month.]

Clovis Unified trustees earn $750 a month; and Central Unified trustees earn $400 a month. All three of the districts offer health care packages as well.

Fresno Unified said its healthcare coverage costs $22,000 per employee annually. Six of the seven trustees opted into health benefits. Wittrup said she does not, as she already receives retirement through the district when she worked as a school psychologist and special education teacher.

“Board Members (participation in health insurance) is entirely optional. Trustees are given the opportunity to enroll or disenroll during the district’s annual open enrollment period, just like other eligible employees,” district spokesperson Diana Diaz said.

Wittrup says there are two sides to the argument of raising trustee compensation under the proposed law.

“My hope is that it will attract better qualified candidates to run for local school boards,” Wittrup said. “Perhaps if the increase was tied to improved student outcomes, our community would support it. Otherwise, why should they?”

Several Fresno Unified school board members have other fulltime jobs or are retired. Two examples: Trustee Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas is deputy general manager with Westlands Water District and Veva Islas is executive director of nonprofit Cultiva La Salud.

Olivier Voices Strong Opposition to Bill

Clovis Unified Trustee Clint Olivier made his views on the bill clear.

“I think this is a stupid bill, but that’s really what I’ve come to expect from the people in Sacramento. I don’t need a raise. I ran for the school board because I am active in my community and I’m concerned about what’s going on in my kids’ schools,” Olivier said.

Olivier called the argument that higher compensation leads to better candidates “silly.”

“(Clovis Unified has) been able to provide these kind of stellar results with what is basically a volunteer school board,” Olivier said. “If someone is truly interested in serving, then the paycheck shouldn’t matter.”

Taxpayer advocacy group Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association has not taken a position on the bill, but is skeptical.

“At a time when school district budgets are under pressure, it seems like a questionable priority to seek a five-fold increase in compensation for school board members,” HJTA spokesperson Susan Shelley said.