Watch CBS News

San Francisco School Board Members Ask For A Big Raise

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - School board members in San Francisco would be in line for a regular pay check under a measure that's headed for the ballot. As it is now, school board members in San Francisco are paid a yearly stipend of $6,000. But if voters agree, they could get a major pay raise, up to half the annual salary of a beginning teacher, or about $25,000 a year.

KCBS' Barbara Taylor Reports:

Supervisor Jane Kim, who previously sat on the school board, supports the ballot measure.

"I don't think any of us say that we should be volunteers," said Kim. "To serve our city is a huge sacrifice that not many of us are able to do without getting paid."

However, Supervisor Mark Farrell said the school district is already short on cash, and having to pay for more salaries would only compound the problem.

"The simple fact is, from my point of view, that this year is the wrong time to be bringing this up," said Farrell. "We are slashing budgets, and teachers are paying for pencils out of their own pockets."

Opponents say it's a slippery slope that will lead to salaries for the community college board and city commissioners. This measure, if passed, doesn't mandate any action, but would give school board members the power to give themselves a pay raise.

(© 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.