Currently, the Oakland Unified School District teachers are voting on whether or not they are willing to go on strike if contract negotiations remain at impasse. If the teachers in Oakland go on strike, and if the Oakland Unified School District attempts to keep schools open by using substitute teachers, staff anticipates that we may lose substitute teachers to Oakland because many of our substitute teachers work in multiple districts. School districts that attempt to do this typically significantly increase substitute pay during strike periods to entice substitute teachers to work during this difficult time.

In order to retain our substitute teachers during this time, staff is recommending that the board authorize a temporary increase in substitute pay to $250 per day. Approval of this agenda item will authorize this daily rate increase and will allow staff the flexibility to designate which days and how many substitutes will receive this pay increase. This increase will not impact the compensation of any certificated staff members in differential pay status who have their pay affected by the daily substitute rate. For these teachers the current $120 daily rate will continue to be used in differential pay calculations.