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On Oct. 2, Las Lomitas Elementary School District teachers rallied for the second time this school year, calling on district administrators to prioritize staff and students in their budget. More than 50 teachers, students and supporters gathered on the corner of Avy Avenue and Alameda de las Pulgas in Menlo Park with signs saying “ready to strike.” The strike could start as soon as mid-October, district officials said.
The rally was held after the fact-finding hearing between the union and the district. “The district and Las Lomitas Education Association remain at an impasse,” said a district press release on Oct. 3.
Las Lomitas teachers have been without a contract since July 2023 and held their first rally prior to the school board meeting on Aug. 21. The union is demanding a contract with a 10% salary increase which compensates for the rising cost of living and healthcare. The district is offering a 5% raise.
A 10% raise would increase starting salaries for teachers with a bachelor’s degree to $81,904. Those with a master’s degree would start at $110,670.
“A district like LLESD, with its revenues and size, can and must pay top salaries in San Mateo County,” said LLEA Co-President Daniella Lefer in an Oct. 2 union press release. “Educators are the backbone of student learning and mental health. Investing in our educators directly benefits our students. The current leadership is neglecting this crucial truth — students must always be the top priority.”
The next step to the fact-finding process will involve a neutral party appointed by the Public Employment Review Board who will create a draft report with comprehensive data on salary, benefits and a recommended settlement.
Las Lomitas School District teachers hold signs as they rally for higher pay on the corner of Avy Avenue and Alameda de las Pulgas on Oct. 2, 2024. Courtesy Caitlin Jalali. 
Las Lomitas School District teachers rally for higher pay on the corner of Avy Avenue and Alameda de las Pulgas on Oct. 2, 2024. Courtesy Las Lomitas Education Association.
The union and district will review the report on Oct. 7 and will continue to bargain after the release of the draft report. The final report will be available around Oct. 9.
The LLEA announced on Sept. 27 that members have authorized a strike which the district predicts will start around Oct. 17. The district stated that it is “working with the Association of California School Administrators to prepare for a potential strike so that we may keep schools open.”
Superintendent Beth Polito said that the bargaining process has been difficult due to the timeline of her return from recovering from leukemia in January and the district’s chief business officer going on a health leave months after. The slower process led teachers to ask more aggressively about their contracts for the next school year, she added.
The district traditionally plans for the next school year’s contract in January to get a better understanding of the property tax revenue increases going into the year.
Polito said the LLEA’s demands would “put the district at a disadvantage for future years” in continuing its current school programs.
The district’s fact-finding reference notes that a 10% increase will cost the district $3.2 to $4.1 million each year. To offer a 5% increase, the district is willing to reduce reserves by about 10% to $11 million. Ninety percent of the district’s revenues come from state and federal funding and to match the union’s requests would require more community support through increased taxes and donations, the district contends.
“There was an uptick in CTA (California Teachers Association) led behavior that has contributed to an environment that’s a little more aggressive and antagonistic,” said Polito. “There’s been some personal attacks … some really inappropriate behavior. I’ve not seen that in the past.”
Polito expressed disappointment by the LLEA “shutting down communication” with the district and forcing it to liaise through their CTA representatives. She said teachers in the district are not willing to talk to her.
LLEA co-presidents clarified that they “have not banned communication” but “have asked that communication remains professional, on professional time and through professional avenues.”
With a potential strike in the next few weeks, the district is confident in its ability to keep schools open and provide students with a safe and enriching environment. Polito said the ACSA is supporting it through this process and will be able to bring in retired teachers and administrators to serve as substitutes in classrooms.
“I think there will be an impact, don’t get me wrong. I just don’t think it’ll be as significant as some might fear,” added Polito.
The district is actively planning and preparing for how the school schedule will look if a strike were to occur.
“We are looking forward to receiving the fact-finder’s report and will determine how to proceed afterwards. Strikes are central to our power as a union and it’s powerful to see members overwhelmingly support if management doesn’t do what is right,” said LLEA Co-President Jennifer Montalvo in a statement to The Almanac. “We are ready to strike for a better future for our students.”
Polito believes that a strike can be avoided if she is able to speak directly with the LLEA and discuss the impacts of a 10% raise on the district’s future.
“I’m just disappointed that our association would come to a place where they’re willing to impact our students’ experience. It’s just really unfortunate that we’ve come to this place and that we can’t continue to talk,” Polito said.
In response to Polito, Montalvo and Lefer state they are “committed to maintaining open lines of communication with leadership and community members.”
On Monday, Oct. 7, the district will be hosting an online information session about the bargaining process and preparations for a potential strike. The Zoom link can be found under “upcoming events” on the district’s website llesd.org.
Questions can be forwarded to schoolboard@llesd.org by noon on Oct. 7.
