Are Compensation Rates for SJUSD Board Fairly Measured?

Trustees on the San Juan Unified School District's Board of Education receive monthly stipends of $750. They also make decisions for one of the largest school districts in the region and are among the highest paid for what some consider a part-time job.

According to a Sacramento Bee analysis comparing school board member stipends, trustees for the school district that includes Fair Oaks make about $9,000 per year. That number puts their pay above other trustees in neighboring districts like Sacramento City Unified and Elk Grove who are paid $630 and $622 per month, respectively. In fact, Sac City Unified had made more - about $788 per month - until February, when they voted to reduce that amount to $630.

Elk Grove Unified represents the largest population of students in the Sacramento area with 62,416 students enrolled. Sac City and San Juan Unified follow Elk Grove, with 47,896 and 47,116 respectively, based on statistics collected from the 2010-2011 school year.

“Elected board members work hard to represent their communities and serve our children each day," said San Juan Unified Board President Richard Launy. "While compensation varies based on a district’s size and the elected officials’ responsibilities, most local school districts - including our own - offer a modest amount to compensate for time and expenses.”

San Juan Unified spokesman Trent Allen explained the compensation rates have been $750 per month for a long time.

"The benefits costs of course will increase as the costs of those programs go up, that’s roughly 8-12 percent per year, depending on how much the health insurance companies raise their rates," Allen said.

Allen explained in a traditional sense the board positions are part-time, but, "I don’t know that’s a great descriptor because the time is so disjointed and different members engage in different activities."

San Juan board members also have full-time jobs. One is a practicing attorney at his own law firm. Another owns a dental practice. One is a part-time college instructor and consultant. Two are retired teachers.

There are the meetings twice a month that all board members attend but then they each serve on different committees and community groups, school visits, meetings with staff, meetings with constituents and a variety of special events they attend, Allen said.

Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools David Gordon defended trustee pay amounts, according to the Bee.

"People underestimate the number of hours a really diligent school board member puts in," Gordon told the Bee. "The board members I've worked with put in 20 to 30 hours a week easily."

Fair Oaks what do you think school board trustees should earn? Should they receive extra incentives like health benefits, iPads and training? Does the recent vote by the San Juan Unified School District trustees put their pay at a fair amount? Post your thoughts in the comments section below.