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For the first time, the highest paid teachers in the Mountain View Los Altos High School District will make a base salary of more than $200,000 annually, under the terms of a union agreement that the school board approved this month.
MVLA’s school board voted unanimously at a June 4 meeting to give teachers a 4% raise, retroactive to the start of the calendar year. At a meeting last night, the board voted 4-0 to approve matching raises for other district staff. Board President Esmeralda Ortiz was absent because she is on maternity leave.
MVLA teachers will now earn between $106,025 and $205,547 annually, depending on their education level and number of years in the school district. There are also additional stipends for teachers who earn a master’s degree, doctorate or “National Board Certification.”
Associate Superintendent Leyla Benson told the Voice that as far as she could ascertain, MVLA teachers are the highest paid in California.
Unlike MVLA’s typical union agreements, this one is only retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025, rather than covering the full school year. In practical terms, that means the 4% increase will equate to roughly 2% for this past school year. However, it will be incorporated into the salary schedule going forward, so that any future raises build upon the 4% increase.
Having the deal only cover half the school year was the result of significant discussions, Benson said. She described it as a responsible and appropriate salary increase.
“When we looked at our budget, in order to afford everything that we just agreed upon, that is what we thought that we could afford,” Benson said.
In recent years, MVLA staff have seen their salaries rise by larger amounts. Previously, the district reached a three-year union agreement with 5% increases in each of the 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, MVLA and other school districts received an influx of various forms of one-time funding. With that money going away, Benson said that the district is now getting back into a more “routine and normal” era of budgeting.
In addition to covering teachers and unionized support staff, the pay raise will also encompass unrepresented employees, like managers and district administrators. This is in keeping with the district’s practice of having salary increases match across employee groups.
According to Benson, the one employee who isn’t covered by the increase is Superintendent Eric Volta. Under the terms of his contract, if the school board gives him a positive evaluation, Volta is entitled to receive a pay increase at least equal to inflation, as well as a one-year contract extension. Volta’s existing contract ran through the 2026-27 school year.
At Monday’s school board meeting, the board members voted 4-0 to approve a one-year extension and a 2.8% pay increase for next school year, which matches the local inflation rate. Volta will now be paid $359,800 annually.
Not enough people in Mountain View are aware of the pay difference between MVLA (9-12) and MVWSD (K-8).
MVLA: starting $106,025 and at its highest: $205,547 (with MA, $208,852)
MVWSD: starting $81,726 and at its highest: $146,521
There is a difference of $24,229 in starting salary and a $62,331 difference at its highest.
MVLA 24-25: https://www.mvla.net/documents/Departments/Personnel%20Services/Salary%20Schedules/2024-25-Certificated-Salary-Schedule.pdf
MVWSD: 24-25:
https://cdnsm5-ss12.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_418774/File/District%20Business/Career%20and%20Staff/Compensation/24-27%20compensation/2024-25%20MVEA%20Salary.pdf
I am aware of it and it makes sense. In other news, college professors make more than high school teachers.
Yes, I think high school teachers typically make more.