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Update: On the morning of Oct. 24, the Las Lomitas Elementary School District requested the Las Lomitas Education Association to take a vote on the district’s latest offer and to present a formal written counter offer. The LLEA has refused to take a vote without a tentative agreement but will be providing a counter offer, according to a district announcement released on Oct. 24.
Thursday, Oct. 24, marks the second day of the Las Lomitas Elementary School District teachers strike after no progress was made in bargaining with the district for higher pay. The Las Lomitas Education Association has been without a contract since July 2023 and will continue to strike until an agreement is reached between the association and the district.
While teachers, parents, students and community members are on the picket line, students who attended school on Wednesday, Oct. 23, the first day of the strike, watched movies and a magic show, according to the LLEA.
The district’s latest offer of a 7% raise for 2023-24, a 3% raise for 2024-25 and increased health benefits and stipends was countered by the LLEA for an 8% raise for 2023-24, an additional 8% raise for 2024-25, a health insurance floating cap and fee reimbursements.
“Striking is hard work, physically, mentally and emotionally but it is a testament to our commitment,” said Daniella Lefer, LLEA co-president during a press conference on Thursday morning. “It shows we are willing to do whatever we need to do to achieve fair compensation and benefits not just for ourselves but for our students and the future of education in our district.”
LLEA members stated they were ready to bargain on Wednesday evening, Oct. 23, to reach an agreement but the district ended the bargaining process at 8 p.m., according to an LLEA press release.
At 9 p.m. Wednesday, the district sent out an announcement to the community stating, “Tonight we continued our bargaining discussions with LLEA. We hope to return to the table tomorrow to continue the conversation.”
The district’s latest offer will raise the base salary for teachers from $71,320 to $79,670 and the maximum salary from $159,186 to $170,330. The district explains that despite the financial risks of making this offer, it is attempting to conform to the recommendations made in the fact-finding report. Teachers are currently being paid at the 2022-23 salary rate.
A student marches in support of Las Lomitas teachers on the second day of their strike on Oct. 24, 2024. Courtesy Las Lomitas Education Association. 
On Oct. 24, 2024 Las Lomitas teachers enter the second day of the strike. Courtesy Las Lomitas Education Association. 
On Oct. 24, 2024 Las Lomitas teachers enter their second day of the strike for higher compensation and benefits. Courtesy Las Lomitas Education Association.
LLESD is a basic aid district which means its funding is supported almost entirely by local property taxes and also keeps any excess property taxes for revenue. The district explains that the current offer will drop its reserves from 28% to 20% while the average reserve level for basic aid districts is 24%.
“Our school board needs to do the right thing,” said Jennifer Montalvo, LLEA co-president during the press conference. “Our school board has the authority to end this strike. They are allowing the entire staff of our district to do this for two days, losing wages, making a sacrifice to do the right thing.”
The daily rate for district-processed substitutes is $500, according to the district.
“Students are receiving both academic and enrichment activities during the school day. We do have credentialed substitute teachers serving our students, supported by our district administrators, who are also educators,” said Superintendent Beth Polito.
Lefer emphasized the importance for the community to “look closely” when voting for the LLESD school board during the upcoming Nov. 5 election. She explained that the school board is responsible for the superintendent, budget and the well being of students and staff.
“The school board needs to feel the urgency to fix this,” Montalvo said. “We need to get back to work. We are done negotiating bad intentions. We need you to negotiate with us on the right side.”
Confusion over negotiations on Tuesday night
On Tuesday, Oct. 22, the night before the strike commenced, the district and LLEA met in person to negotiate and both parties presented their offers, however the district and LLEA disagree on how that night’s bargaining process ended.
Lefer explained that after they brought their offer to the district, LLEA representatives left the room to allow the district to caucus. The LLEA claim Polito indicated she would text one of the members to come back and continue negotiating. After waiting until midnight, LLEA members found that the district had left and gone home, according to Lefer.
The district explained in an announcement that the board excused the district at 10:30 p.m. to prepare for an early day and had extended an invitation to LLEA to continue negotiations remotely.
“We recognize that this decision may have unintentionally caused confusion,” said Heather Hopkins, LLESD school board president.
