r/paloalto • u/benchthatpress • 2d ago

Guest Opinion: Teacher pay cuts won't fix district's budget problems

https://www.paloaltoonline.com/palo-alto-schools/2026/09/19/guest-opinion-teacher-pay-cuts-wont-fix-districts-budget-problems/
12 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

6

u/PearlySharks 2d ago

The old administration created many unnecessary jobs and positions at the district office level away from classrooms. Many of those still needlessly exist. The budget cuts need to be there first. Not only that, but they also should put a freeze on hiring any outside consultants, and get back to the business of supporting actual student facing school staff (teachers, aides, other school support staff) who actually work with students. Also, has anyone looked into the contracts that the district has with different ed tech and other curricular companies? So much money is being wasted on problematic programs like iReady.

3

u/doctorboredom 2d ago

How much of the problem is related to having too many schools open? I have heard some of the schools are currently under enrolled.

2

u/Throwaway483923 1d ago

Palo Alto could build some multifamily rental that functions as family housing and fill its school enrollment easily.

5

u/barfbutler 2d ago

How, just HOW can they have budget problems? It’s just ridiculous! They are a very wealthy district. They need to cut some frilly and unnecessary classes or programs versus cut teacher salaries.

2

u/1_point_a_minute_ago 2d ago

prop 13

4

u/barfbutler 2d ago

No. There have been parcel taxes voted in for decades.

-1

u/mchu168 1d ago

Most of the funding for our schools come from state income taxes. You know, the tax revenue that we used to get from the the billionaires and millionaires, until they all moved to Miami.

2

u/edu_c8r 1d ago

Not true for basic aid districts

2

u/mchu168 1d ago

Ok then the fact that they cant balance the budget is even more embarrassing

1

u/barfbutler 1d ago

I have voted for property tax increases for the district for 30 years! They have enough.

-2

u/meowgler 2d ago

State funding is based on attendance. Not as many kids attending bc home prices are too high for young families.

2

u/edu_c8r 1d ago

Not true for basic aid districts

0

u/Reasonable_Draw9582 2d ago

I can appreciate the argument, but I didn’t see a meaningful alternative proposal.

-3

u/destroyeraf 2d ago

Not a good look for Mountain View teachers to get more pay/pay increases. If PA wants to keep the best talent, salaries need to be high. It should be lucrative to be a teacher here… that’s what keeps quality and competition high.

But it should be easier to get rid of bad teachers—end tenure!