The study, conducted jointly by Oakland Unified and United Administrators of Oakland Schools and completed in March, found base pay gaps as large as $67,000 between high school principals in Oakland and San Leandro, The Oaklandside reported. EdSource reported that the highest salary for Oakland middle school principals, $157,000, is below the starting pay in several nearby districts, including San Francisco, where middle school principals start at $167,000. Senior high school principals were among the few groups whose pay was competitive, EdSource said.
Oakland Unified covers 100% of employees' health premiums, but the study found that other districts' benefits have become increasingly competitive. The union also said most of its members are at the top of their pay scales and no longer get yearly raises.
Work to rule
The union, which represents principals, assistant principals, community school managers, central office directors and other middle managers, has been without a contract since June. At the Oct. 28 school board meeting, members disrupted the start of the meeting to demand a fair contract. UAOS President Cary Kaufman called on members to “work to rule.” “When your contract work day is over, shut down your computers, stop answering emails, stop taking work calls,” Kaufman said, according to The Oaklandside. Kaufman told The Oaklandside the union last escalated like this more than a decade ago.
“We could go to Castro Valley, Mount Diablo, or anywhere else and make twice as much,” Montera Middle School assistant principal Anisa Rasheed said, as quoted by both outlets.