Board Cuts Superintendent Pay to $238K as Unions Near Breaking Point

The Pacifica School District board walked into a packed room Feb. 25 and walked out having reshaped the terms of its new superintendent's employment — slashing a proposed $257,335 salary to $238,000 — while punting two layoff resolutions that would eliminate more than 20 positions. Both the teachers' and classified employees' unions delivered urgent warnings: one is preparing unfair labor practice paperwork, the other rallied members in extraordinary numbers to protest proposed cuts after 240 days without a contract.

• Board negotiates superintendent salary down $19K after unions, teachers and parents call proposed compensation tone-deaf amid layoffs and stalled worker negotiations

• Teachers' union threatens unfair labor practice filing with the state after three consecutive fruitless bargaining sessions

• Both layoff resolutions tabled — certificated (15.8 FTE) to March 11 over a drafting error, classified (6 positions) to allow negotiations over a key bilingual role

• Classified employees rally in force, with CSEA labor representative calling the turnout "not normal" and a signal of deep offense

• 30 TK families left without school placement after the enrollment lottery, with parents lobbying for a Valimar campus option

• Immigration enforcement protections adopted before the March 1 state deadline under AB 495

Contract Clash: $238K Compromise, but Unions Say It's Still Too Much

The most heated item of the evening was the ratification of a three-year employment contract for Superintendent Dr. Carisa Bowman, whose proposed salary of $257,335 drew immediate and sustained opposition from every corner of the room.

Why it matters: The proposed salary represented a roughly 30% increase from Dr. Bowman's interim pay of $199,000 — a jump that unions, teachers and parents called indefensible at a time when the district is proposing layoffs, has not settled contracts with either employee union, and pays mid-career teachers well below regional averages.

Where things stand: Laguna Salada Education Association (LSEA) President Megan Elsburn opened the evening with a lengthy address that framed the salary debate in blunt terms:

"Her raise from June to March is higher than the salary of a first year teacher in Pacifica. Her raise has her above the state average of superintendent salaries from 23-24."

LSEA Bargaining Chair Rachel Merlo put the figure in personal context:

"In 17 years as a teacher here in Pacifica, my salary has seen an increase from $42,000 to 79,000. That's $37,000 in 17 years, which works out to about $165 a month, which is less than the travel stipend that is included in the new superintendent cost contract."

Ingrid B. Lacy Middle School PTO President Maria Jackson urged the board to examine consultant fees, legal fees, and planned salary increases before approving the deal. Public commenter Grace called the salary inconsistent with the district's austerity narrative, pointing to school reconfigurations, three new vice principal positions and 16 additional layoffs.

The other side: During board deliberation, Trustee Laverne Villalobos proposed $237,000, arguing the district's previous superintendent less, with more experience:

"I also think that Darnise Williams was more experienced and so I would like to go down to 237,000 thousand for the salary."

Board President Lynda Brocchini countered with $248,000, saying it was more inline with the district. They settled at $238,000 with the $175 monthly car allowance eliminated. The contract includes 2% automatic step increases in years two and three, stipends for advanced degrees, family health coverage and a $150,000 term life insurance policy.

Villalobos also expressed frustration about the thin quorum:

"I wish the other two board members were here because when you become a board member, you're told that your most important job and your only one employee is the superintendent."

Trustees Kai Doggett and Bridget Hardt were absent.

Decisions: The contract passed 3-0 (For: Brocchini, Villalobos, Bredall; Absent: Doggett, Hardt). A separate vote waiving California credential requirements for Dr. Bowman — who holds out-of-state credentials and has canceled credentials in Maryland — also passed 3-0 while she awaits California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) review. Elsburn had flagged this issue directly, noting the board was approving a superintendent who has not cleared any California credentials.

After the vote, LSEA President Elsburn addressed Dr. Bowman directly:

"None of this has been about you as a person. It's been about the process and the contract negotiations with the board."

What's next: The contract takes effect immediately. Dr. Bowman's credential status will depend on the CTC out-of-state review process.

Both Unions Sound the Alarm: Unfair Labor Practice Looms

The superintendent salary fight was only one front in what has become a labor relations crisis engulfing the district.

Why it matters: A potential unfair labor practice filing could trigger state mediation, fact-finding and eventual strike proceedings — an escalation that would disrupt the district during an already turbulent budget cycle.

Where things stand: LSEA President Megan Elsburn told the board that three consecutive bargaining sessions had produced nothing:

"This had been the third consecutive meeting where they either canceled or were unauthorized to bargain. This constitutes bad faith bargaining under EERA Educational Employment Relations Act."

She said the union had prepared unfair labor practice paperwork with CTA Legal and would file with the Public Employment Relations Board if the March 4 session was unproductive.

Classified employees showed up in force. California School Employees Association (CSEA) Labor Relations Representative Dustin Patenaude told the board the turnout itself was the message:

"To see this number of employees present at this board meeting is not normal. I work with 12 other chapters. I go to plenty of board meetings. This. This is not normal to have this sort of turnout. And this is because our members are offended."

He drew a sharp contrast between superintendent compensation and front-line worker pay:

"Paying a regionally competitive salary for district leaders seems to be essential. But the workers who make these schools run, who feed the kids, who teach the kids who keep them safe and educated. Apparently that can wait indefinitely to even discuss compensation."

Multiple speakers pointed out that at least 19 certificated management positions exist in the district, with four added this year, while front-line positions face elimination. One commentator noted that classified employees are among the lowest-paid in San Mateo County and that the district was proposing to cut jobs and reduce hours while keeping workloads the same.

What's next: The March 4 bargaining session between LSEA and the district will determine whether the unfair labor practice filing moves forward. CSEA members remain without a contract after 240 days.

Layoff Resolutions Tabled, but March 15 Deadline Looms

Two resolutions that would have eliminated more than 20 positions were both tabled after procedural objections and impassioned testimony — but the clock is ticking.

Certificated Cuts: Drafting Error Forces a Do-Over

The basics: Resolution 2026-25A proposed eliminating 1 vice principal, 1 CTE coordinator and 13.8 general education teaching positions.

Where things stand: LSEA President Megan Elsburn identified a procedural error that forced the board's hand:

"Procedurally this should be two different items. It's a merge of actual reduction of positions, non reelects, resignations, retirements. All these positions should not be on the one agenda item."

Interim HR Director Rachel Romo confirmed the resolution needed to be split, and the board voted 3-0 to table it to March 11.

Classified Cuts: The Fight to Save Pacifica's Bilingual Lifeline

The basics: Resolution 2026-25B proposed eliminating six classified positions: administrative secretary, roving night custodian, director of facilities/maintenance/operations, bond project manager, licensed vocational nurse and paraprofessional.

Where things stand: The most passionately defended position was the administrative secretary held by Yolanda Pranza, a 20-year employee who provides Spanish translation, ELPAC testing support and serves as the frontline contact for families across departments. Pranza told the board:

"This position is not as nexus. It's an infrastructure. It is access. It is communication. It is operational stability."

CSEA member Nicole Ortega detailed the position's role supporting HR, business services, ELPAC testing, translation, mail processing and phone coverage — all while classified staff have been without a contract for 240 days. Kindergarten and first-grade teacher Doreen Murphy described growing behavioral needs in early grades and advocated for preserving the position. LSEA Bargaining Chair Rachel Merlo also spoke in support.

Decisions: Trustees signaled interest in renegotiating the administrative secretary job description to formally include interpreter duties, which requires CSEA negotiations. The board voted 3-0 to table the resolution to allow time for that process.

What's next: Both resolutions must be acted on before the March 15 Ed Code notification deadline. Trustees noted that even after notice is given, positions can be restored through May — providing a narrow window for negotiation.

30 TK Families Stranded After Enrollment Lottery

Why it matters: Thirty incoming transitional kindergarten families were left without school placement after the district's enrollment lottery, and frustrated parents warned they may leave the district entirely — taking ADA funding with them.

Where things stand: Morgan, a parent of an incoming TK student, told the board that 18 of the 30 unplaced families chose Vallemar as their first choice and urged the board to consider opening a classroom there. She also asked for better communication and coordination with aftercare providers.

Margot Seeto, a Sharp Park parent, reinforced the point: 60% of the entire waitlist ranked Vallemar first, and the school had the highest number of requests overall. She suggested the closure of Ocean Shore's original campus had redirected many families toward Vallemar. Both parents noted some families had signed a petition for the proposed Ocean Light charter school as an alternative.

What's next: Board members acknowledged receiving many emails from concerned TK parents and Vallemar families. No action was taken.

Ocean Light Charter Presses District After Talks Go Cold

Where things stand: Representatives of Ocean Light School, a proposed TK-8 project-based environmental education charter, asked the board to resume discussions after district leadership paused talks in February.

Founding Board Chair Shivani Ganguly described a productive January 23 meeting with Dr. Bowman:

"The meeting was constructive. The tone was professional, collaborative and solutions oriented. We left with the understanding that there was openness to exploring a district authorized charter model."

But on Feb. 1, Dr. Bowman canceled further meetings pending legal review. Ganguly raised concerns about inconsistent messaging, noting Dr. Bowman told parents at a Feb. 4 town hall that the district was still in talks with Ocean Light.

Joan Wideman, who previously led Ocean Shore's enrollment expansion, noted a district-authorized charter could draw students from private schools and homeschool programs, with 1% of ADA revenue going to the district for oversight.

A trustee confirmed meeting with legal counsel. A follow-up meeting between both parties' legal teams was being scheduled.

Immigration Protections Adopted Before State Deadline

The board adopted new Board Policy 1445 implementing AB 495, which requires California school districts to update immigration enforcement response policies by March 1, 2026. The policy prohibits district staff from sharing citizenship or immigration status information, providing access to school buses or non-public areas for immigration enforcement, or compiling registries based on national origin or immigration status. The superintendent must report any enforcement requests to the board.

A trustee shared personal observations from a recent trip to Minneapolis, where neighbors were helping immigrant friends buy groceries and a lunch worker was reportedly pulled from a school cafeteria, underscoring the policy's urgency. Passed 3-0 on first read.

Special Ed Spending Drops $778K, but Identification Rates Stay High

Martha Ladd, Interim Deputy Superintendent of Special Education, reported the district serves 410 students with disabilities — approximately 15% of its 2,532-student population, compared to 12% countywide and 13% statewide. The three largest categories are specific learning disabilities (108 students), autism (105) and speech only (101).

The district achieved a 41% reduction in contracted paraprofessional costs and a 15% overall decrease in contracted special education spending ($778,000) by hiring district staff. ."

A notable concentration of high special education identification in grades 6-8 prompted Ladd to flag assessment and placement practices for review. She attributed some of the elevated rates to pandemic-era assessment norming:

"The pandemic introduced a set of circumstances that our assessments weren't normed for. And those assessments are now being normed for those set of circumstances. So we may see a leveling off of the identification of students in certain disability categories."

The district passed its maintenance of effort test and disproportionality review but received level 2 targeted status for performance in math, English, late IEPs and preschool least restrictive environment.

School Climate: Middle School Discipline and Dismal Engagement Data

The Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) mid-year update revealed student engagement favorability at just 22% — the 10th percentile nationally — with the lowest marks concentrated in grades 6-8. Staff feedback and coaching favorability stood at only 34%.

The majority of suspensions occur in middle school, driven primarily by tobacco/vaping and property destruction. The district reported 133 targeted needs identified through Coordination of Services Teams across all schools.

LSEA Bargaining Chair Rachel Merlo challenged the data presentation, arguing low suspension numbers in younger grades mask the reality of classroom disruptions because California Ed Code limits suspensions in TK-3. She advocated for maintaining three administrators at Ingrid B. Lacy Middle School given its 659 students.

Trustee Villalobos pushed for evidence that interventions are producing results and raised equity concerns about discipline:

"When you send a child out of the classroom, that is a suspension. And so if you're sending a child out of the classroom 10 times in a month, that may be in violation of some of the special ed civil rights laws."

The $15,000-Per-Student Funding Gap

Underlying every conflict of the evening was a structural reality Board President Brocchini laid out plainly:

"We only get $11,000 per student and over the year, over the hill, they get... $26,000 per student. So that's per student $15,000 less that our district gets."

A trustee reported that the San Mateo County Department of Education has formed an equitable school funding task force and that State Sen. Becker has sent a letter to the Legislative Analyst Office requesting a study of TK-12 funding inequities. Brocchini urged community members to write letters to the county advocating for equitable funding.

Minor Items

• Consent agenda approved with item 2026-188 pulled and tabled to a later meeting; item 10B removed from the agenda.

• Project labor agreement for the district's workforce housing project approved 3-0; the district recently received an additional $2 million in state funding.

• MOUs between PSD and LSEA approved 3-0, removing the prorated restriction on advanced degree stipends for part-time educators and retired unit members for 2025-26.

• Resolution 2026-11A recognizing February as Black History Month approved 3-0.

• CSBA Delegate Assembly: Board selected Chelsea Bonini and Terry Chavez for sub-region 5B seats.

• Cabrillo School principal Robin Pang Maganar retained through end of the 2025-26 school year, approved 3-0.

• First-read policy updates presented covering budget notification requirements, contract transparency, campus security, facilities inspection — including all-gender restrooms required by July 1, 2026 under SB 760 — and school bus drivers.

• Comprehensive school safety plans reviewed as required by state law under SB 719 and AB 115.

• Library media teachers from across the district spoke during public comment against potential elimination of library positions, arguing they provide safe spaces, reading support, clubs and technology access.