Long Beach : School Board Raises Its Pay
The Long Beach school board has voted, 3-2, to double its pay to the state-allowed maximum of $18,000 a year for each member.
Members Jenny Oropeza, Bobbie Smith and Jerry Schultz supported the move Monday night to boost their pay while President Harriet Williams and Karin Polacheck were opposed.
Oropeza said she needs the increase so she can devote more time to the school board, which usually meets three times a month. She recently quit her job as a legislative assistant.
Long Beach Unified School District spokesman Dick Van Der Laan said the board has not given itself a raise since 1977. Since then, the salaries of district employees have risen 80% and contract talks are scheduled again next year.
Van Der Laan said the district is the third largest in the state behind Los Angeles and San Diego.
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