Are Teachers Better Off In Separate Hercules School District?

— by Jeffrey Wisniewski — 10 October 2008 — Comments Off

One of the arguments against Hercules splitting from the gargantuan West Contra Costa Unified School District was that the teachers union was against it for they would be unable to ensure the same salaries and benefits for its members. However, with the state budget crisis making it harder than ever for unions and districts to meet in the middle at the negotiating table, does that not substantiate (and bolster) the argument that a separately-funded Hercules School District (with Hercules residents’ taxes footing the bill) has a better opportunity to negotiate fair contracts with teachers?

Or am I missing something?

Keep in mind — thanks to Proposition 13 — newer residents (especially with new, higher-priced homes) pay the bulk of property taxes (which fund the local schools), and Hercules has a large number of such households, a number that will continue to grow over the next decade.