Oakland teachers on strike against a bankrupt district as well

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Some are overpriced at home. The crisis is so serious that the school district is losing nearly 20% of its teachers each year.

"It's time the (school) district listens now, they forced us to go on strike," said Oakland Education Association President Keith Brown.

But here's the problem: teachers demand higher raises from a school district that has already gone bankrupt. The unified Oakland School District is in such bad shape that it is considering laying off 112 people.

The district says that it has barely enough money to care for its low income students – 75% are eligible for a free or reduced meal. So giving teachers higher raises could be ruled out.

No one knows how long the strike will last or what the victory will look like. But it will be very expensive for a community already in difficulty.

The district says that he spent too much, but for good reason

Both parties agree that teachers should be better paid. The big debate is how much the school district can afford.

Roxana De La O Cortez walks with other teachers in Oakland.
Teachers are demanding a 12% salary increase over the next three years. They also want more counselors and nurses, so schools can have at least one counselor for every 250 students and at least one nurse for every 750 students.
The school district offered at least 5% increase over three years, less than the Oakland Education Association request.
This offer "will not keep up with inflation," said arbitrator Najeeb Khoury, who had written an independent investigation report into the dispute.

"It's also clear that OUSD will have a lot of trouble offering it a 12% increase over three years because it's a structural deficit."

Oakland teachers live with multiple roommates just to survive

School district spokesman John Sasaki said "there is no doubt that there has been mismanagement over the years", but not for reasons you might think.

"We have done a lot more for our kids than any other school district, a lot of it is due to the fact that in the city of Oakland, the needs are much bigger," he said. -he declares.

According to Sasaki, 75 percent of students are eligible for free or discounted meals, and the district also offers them free lunch before they return home.

The USO also has dental clinics where needy children can be examined, as well as washers and dryers for families of students who can not afford it.

But the district claims that rising costs, insufficient state funding and its gaping deficit will require major budget cuts for the third year in a row, including layoffs.

Sasaki said that about 112 employees could be fired, but that they will come mainly from the district central office. No teacher will be laid off.

Sacrifice more money to strike

Because teachers are not paid during the strike, their protest makes a painful situation even more difficult.

"We are going to tap into our savings to cover my lost wages during the strike," said Alex Webster Guiney, special education teacher. "It had a negative impact on our family."

Alex Webster Guiney said that the cost of living had exploded, but the salary had not changed.

She spends all of her salary on the mortgage for a two-bedroom house and a bathroom for a family of four. Her husband, a video producer, pays for utilities and covers purchases.

Webster Guiney, an eighth grade teacher, said she earned $ 52,800 before tax last year.

They bought the house for $ 426,000 in 2012. It's now worth $ 975,000, she said.

"We could never afford this house now."

Christina Zdanowicz of CNN contributed to this report.

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