AGAINST IT. BOTH BILLS NOW HEAD TO THE SENATE. TEACHERS IN WEST SACRAMENTO WANT MORE MONEY AND BETTER STAFFING. DOZENS OF TEACHERS AND PARENTS RALLIED TONIGHT, CLAIMING THEIR SCHOOLS IN WASHINGTON UNIFIED HAVE HIGH TURNOVER AS TEACHERS LEAVE FOR HIGHER PAY AND BETTER BENEFITS. IN FACT, THEY SAY THEY ARE AMONG THE LOWEST PAID IN THE SACRAMENTO AREA. I’VE BEEN TEACHING IN THE DISTRICT, LIKE I SAID, FOR 29 YEARS, AND DESPITE ALL THE SERVICE AND EXPERIENCE I HAVE, I’M STILL STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET. DESPITE EVERYTHING, THE RISE OF COSTS, THE RISING COST OF LIVING, THE COST OF BENEFITS, TRYING TO SUPPORT MY KIDS IN COLLEGE, I HAVE HAD TO TAKE ON EXTRA WORK SO THAT I CAN MAKE ENDS MEET. THE WASHINGTON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT IS RESPONDING TO TONIGHT’S RALLY, SAYING REMAINS THAT IT REMAINS HYPER FOCUSED ON REACHING AN AGREEMENT THAT IS BOTH COMPETITIVE FOR OUR EDUCATORS AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY. THE DISTRICT SAYS
West Sacramento teachers rally for better pay and staffing
Updated: 10:49 PM PST Jan 22, 2026
Teachers and parents rallied in West Sacramento on Thursday, demanding higher pay and better staffing due to high turnover and low wages in the Washington Unified School District.”I’ve been teaching, like I said, for 29 years, and despite all the service and experience I have, I’m still struggling to make ends meet. Despite everything, the rising cost of living extra, the cost of benefits, trying to support my kids in college. I have had to take on extra work so that I can make ends meet,” said Pinky Ngo of the West Sacramento Teachers Association.KCRA 3 reached out to the school district for a statement. “At this point in negotiations, WUSD remains hyper‑focused on reaching an agreement that is both competitive for our educators and fiscally responsible for our schools and community. Both WUSD and WSTA are continuing in the formal mediation process and are scheduled to return to mediation tomorrow, January 23, with a shared goal of working toward a fair, sustainable resolution that avoids disruption to student learning,” school officials shared, in part.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Teachers and parents rallied in West Sacramento on Thursday, demanding higher pay and better staffing due to high turnover and low wages in the Washington Unified School District.
“I’ve been teaching, like I said, for 29 years, and despite all the service and experience I have, I’m still struggling to make ends meet. Despite everything, the rising cost of living extra, the cost of benefits, trying to support my kids in college. I have had to take on extra work so that I can make ends meet,” said Pinky Ngo of the West Sacramento Teachers Association.
KCRA 3 reached out to the school district for a statement.
“At this point in negotiations, WUSD remains hyper‑focused on reaching an agreement that is both competitive for our educators and fiscally responsible for our schools and community. Both WUSD and WSTA are continuing in the formal mediation process and are scheduled to return to mediation tomorrow, January 23, with a shared goal of working toward a fair, sustainable resolution that avoids disruption to student learning,” school officials shared, in part.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel