Saugus plans to increase salaries across the board

Saugus Union’s Governing Board expects to approve a 2-percent raise for staff, faculty and board members Tuesday, according to the agenda for its latest meeting.

The raise, which is one of four on Saugus’ agenda this week, would increase members’ per meeting stipend from $261 to $266. The agenda states the raise is allowed in accordance with Education Code Section 35120, which determines how much each member on the governing board is eligible for based on a school’s average daily attendance for the prior school years. “Saugus is referred to as a Me Too district,” board President Christopher Trunkey said, “so if one group gets a particular increase, then others in the district do, too.”

The code states, “in any school district in which the average daily attendance for the prior school years was 10,000 or less but more than 1,000, each member of the city board of education or the governing board of the district who actually attends all meetings held may receive as compensation for his or her services a sum not to exceed $240 in any month.”

The board, in accordance to Education Code, is also allowed to “increase the compensation of individual board members,” though the amount may not exceed 5 percent of the present monthly rate of compensation.

Following a tentative agreement with staff and faculty that calls for a 2 percent raise along with increased benefits, members of the board are allowed to see the same increase as long as they deem it fit.

The estimated cost to the Saugus district would be $313 for the upcoming school year, according to the agenda.

Board members in Santa Clarita Valley elementary districts, according to Sulphur Springs and Castaic officials, make anywhere between $240 and $250 per month, while the William S. Hart Union High School District, along with similarly large high school districts in California, pay $463.05 a month to every board member, according to Hart officials.