BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — The Bakersfield City School District board voted to increase its monthly compensation from $787 to $3,000, a 281% raise that takes effect this month.
The decision came during a board meeting Tuesday night, with only one member, Chris Cruz-Boone, voting against the increase. The raise is permitted under state law for districts with average daily attendance exceeding 25,000 students. BCSD's attendance is roughly 26,000.
"I respect that board members serve under different financial circumstances and may reasonably reach different conclusions," Cruz-Boone said in a statement. "My vote reflects my own values as a public servant. In the past, I declined BCSD medical benefits I didn't need, and similarly, I felt it was important for me to vote consistently with my personal approach to taxpayer stewardship—without expecting or asking others to do the same."
The district said the change aligns local policy with updated state compensation guidelines that hadn't been revised in 40 years.
"The levels authorized were deemed needed by the legislature to: Catch up with 40 years of inflation, Be more equitable and inclusive in terms of better enabling candidates from all segments of the community to run for office," the district said in a statement.
Other California districts have made similar moves. Fresno board members voted to more than double their monthly stipend to $4,500, while Stockton Unified approved a fourfold increase to $3,000 monthly.
Under California Education Code Section 35120, school board members are allowed to receive monthly stipends but are not required to accept them. The law also allows pay reductions based on meeting attendance.
Board members are also offered free health benefits if they choose to accept them.
The resolution includes a safeguard that automatically reduces board member pay to $2,000 monthly if student attendance falls below 25,000.
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