More than 300 teachers in Rohnert Park are set to strike Thursday if a deal can't be reached over pay increases with the Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District.
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Negotiations have been at an impasse since September. Both sides agree a pay raise is in order, but disagree on the amount.
"This whole push is to get our wages not even above average, we are just pushing to get our wages close to average," Emilie King told KCBS Radio.
King is a history and English teacher at Rohnert Park Technology High School. She said the district's educators are paid 20% less than the state average and less than other districts in Sonoma County. Teachers are being offered a one-time bonus this year and a raise less than what they were asking for.
"It's one time, it doesn't help us retain and attract educators it's heavily taxed and it does not count towards retirement," she said.
Dr. Mayra Perez, Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District Superintendent said budgets are confined to state formulas.
"The more affluent communities generate more funds per student, whereas Cotati-Rohnert Park we don't have all of that funding," Dr. Perez said. "Yeah, know so that is something that concerns me yeah know I hope we can address it in the state the inequities."
Perez said if the 6% raises were approved over three years the district would become insolvent.
"We risk state takeover and the decisions being made for us and we would like to continue to make the decisions for our students because we know our students best," she explained.
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