Letter to the Editor: School Board Raise
           In the April 2026 edition of the Pioneer, there was a story about most of the Orcutt Union School District's school board members voting to give themselves a raise. This wasn’t just a typical raise to cover inflation, gas prices or other concerns.  Specifically, the raise was from $264 to $1,200 per month, representing a 355% increase.  Liz Phillips was the only member to vote against the raise and gave an impassioned speech. Her central point is that serving the Orcutt community is both an honor and a form of community service. She has served for many years, declining pay or benefits. 
           That cannot be said of the other board members.  Salary is not the primary component of compensation for those who choose to accept both salary and benefits funded by local taxpayers.  Board members are entitled to participate in the district employee benefits program.  This includes medical, dental, and vision coverage.  There are different levels of coverage, with rates for single people the lowest and those with families being the highest.  Taxpayers pay up to $8,963 per year for single coverage per employee.  The highest family rate is $18,676.  A board member who accepts the full salary of $14,400 and single benefits is given a total compensation package of $23,363 per year.  A board member who accepts the full salary and lavish family benefits is earning a total compensation package of $33,076 per year.  This seems incredibly generous to many tax-paying residents.  Some full-time district classified employees make so little that they cannot afford to participate in the district’s benefit plan.  How is this right?
One of the school board members seemed to go a bit overboard in justifying her compensation increase, stating that she calls the superintendent “three or four times a day.”  Hopefully, she’s not making those calls on a phone from her other job.
          Finally, I’m puzzled by the board’s decision to reduce the curricular minutes by half for History and electives at the junior highs.  The teaching of constitutional principles couldn’t be more important in the current political atmosphere.  History isn’t one of the state tests, so it must not seem important to them.  It should be one of the state tests, and the district should be the strongest advocate for this. 
Please vote in November and think carefully before filling in those little ovals.  It matters all the way down to the school board level.
Pat Brickey, Orcutt