After forgoing raises last year because of the Long Beach Unified\u2019s looming financial problems, the school district and its teachers union reached a tentative agreement for 2025-26 that would give educators a modest pay bump.<\/p>\n
If the agreement is ratified, certificated employees \u2014 including teachers, nurses and librarians \u2014 will receive a 1% permanent wage hike and a one-time 1.5% payment retroactive to the beginning of this school year.<\/p>\n
Last year\u2019s contract, ratified by union members in December<\/a> after protracted negotiations, did not increase pay \u2014 a blow to teachers after years of consistent, large compensation wins. That outcome reflected the district\u2019s worsening finances, as declining enrollment, expiring pandemic relief funds and rising costs forced LBUSD into deficit spending.<\/p>\n This year, only a limited set of items, including compensation, opened for bargaining (the entire contract is up only every three years), and \u201cthe pressure was raised\u201d for a salary bump, said Peder Larsen, vice president of the teachers union. \u201cInflation has been pretty painful over the last few years, so going a year without a raise was hurting our members,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Although higher pay was a priority in negotiations, the district\u2019s financial reality was \u201cthe elephant in the room,\u201d Larsen said.<\/p>\n At a board meeting on Wednesday, district administrators presented a sobering budget update. Enrollment continues to decline and is expected to dip below 60,000 students for the first time next school year. Attendance has not rebounded to pre-pandemic levels. Because state funding is closely tied to attendance and enrollment, both trends drain the revenue LBUSD receives, said Yumi Takahashi, chief business and financial officer for the district.<\/p>\n Administrators also announced a rare piece of good financial news: A recent revision from the governor\u2019s office means that LBUSD expects to get more money from the state, improving the district\u2019s outlook. While the district is projected to finish this school year operating at a deficit of $72.4 million, next year\u2019s projected deficit has fallen to $34.8 million, according to the updated budget<\/a>. Still, administrators projected the district will have to dip into its reserves again next year, for the third year in a row.<\/p>\n