The following letter is one that I recently mailed to the Alameda Unified School District Board regarding the current compensation discussions surrounding Alameda’s teachers. Before you review the letter (below), I want to speak directly to the community at large.
Teachers are not merely employees of a school district; they are the foundation upon which the future of our community rests. Teachers are responsible for instilling in students the character, confidence, knowledge, and potential that will allow these students to become the leaders of Alameda as adults. In essence, the quality of our schools reflects how important we believe education is to us, and how much importance we put on those individuals who provide that education for our children daily.
Alamedans are known to be caring, committed, and considerate. We attend parades, hold fundraisers, honor veterans, care for our elderly, and help our neighbors when they need assistance. As such, we take great pride in knowing that there is a sense of “we” when it comes to helping one another. As such, it also is our responsibility to ensure that our teachers know that they too are supported by the very community they serve.
If we pay our teachers less than anyone else in the county, and if those same educators face healthcare costs that increase faster than their salary, then this is no longer just a contract discussion; this is a priority/valuation issue. Will we invest in the individuals who invest in our children?
The letter I submitted to the Board is straightforward and honest concerning this issue. I hope that this introduction will inspire residents to read it with an open mind and even more so, to add their voices to support fair compensation for the teachers of Alameda.
Our children deserve to have teachers that do not have to worry about making ends meet. Our teachers deserve to have a community that stands behind them.
Support our teachers!
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Dear Members of the Alameda Unified School District Board,
As a long-time Alameda resident, parent, and community member I feel compelled to express my deep concern and commitment to the future of our children and the quality of education in our city.
The trend clearly indicates that Alameda teachers are some of the lowest-paid in Alameda County, when compared to other Bay Area school district neighbors. The differential in pay is not only a labor issue—it is also a student issue, a family issue, and a community issue.
How can we expect to hire and maintain top-quality teachers if they can’t afford to live in the area without having to make daily decisions regarding housing, basic living needs and healthcare? Furthermore, the District’s past practice to contribute to employee healthcare benefits has historically provided a fixed contribution, while employee premium payments continually increase, resulting in an increased cost burden on the teacher, who already receives inadequate pay.
In addition to the above, I have heard that the District has at times asked teachers, “If you want a raise, then tell us what you would like to cut?” This is not the responsibility of educators. Educators’ primary responsibility is to educate the children of Alameda—not to help the District balance the budget. Asking teachers to assist in solving the budgetary issues of the District will create another source of distraction for the educators who rely upon them to perform their duties each day.
I also reviewed the current compensation package of the Superintendent. In 2019, the District agreed to a 3% compensation increase; however, the District changed the compensation package to include a $10,000 increase in the first year, and an additional $10,000 in the second year, and an additional $25,000 in the third year, resulting in a total compensation of approximately $275,000, versus the original compensation calculation based on the 3% increase, which totaled approximately $251,327 for that same period. Additionally, the Superintendent received fully paid health insurance benefits and generous vacation allowance during this time, which were further enhanced in the 2025 collective bargaining agreement.
While I did not intend to criticize the District for the compensation of the Superintendent, I wanted to illustrate that the District has demonstrated the ability to develop and provide a meaningful compensation package to a key staff member when it deems it necessary to do so.
As a community, we often discuss and advocate for equity, living wage and access to affordable healthcare. These values must start at home. They must start with how we treat those individuals responsible for developing the minds and future of Alameda’s children.
Are the children of Alameda not worthy of teachers who can focus on their teaching without the distraction of financial concerns?
I respectfully request that the Board prioritize developing teacher compensation (including health care) to comparable levels of surrounding Bay Area districts, in order to ensure that Alameda remains a place where excellent educators can both choose to work and build their careers.
Investing in our teachers is investing in the future of our community.
Thank you for your time and for serving the students of Alameda.
Sincerely,
Joe LoParo
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