In the Santa Rosa school district, while many employees are receiving unemployment benefits after layoffs, the interim treasurer might be on the verge of a substantial salary increase.
Just weeks after 80 staff members were notified of their layoffs, the district board is set to vote on a significant pay raise for Luz Cazares.
If the raise is approved, Cazares could see an additional $76,000 added to her pay. This decision comes against the backdrop of ongoing financial mismanagement within the district, where officials noted an influx of new employees exceeding the revenue capabilities.
Enrollment numbers have also dropped notably, declining from 16,000 in 2016 to below 12,000 in 2025. School funding in California is typically tied to student enrollment numbers.
Michael Fine, the CEO of the Financial Crisis and Management Support Team, pointed out serious funding challenges facing the district. He remarked, “It’s much worse than any other district in the state. I don’t understand why we always have no cash.”
Cazares took on a part-time role in July, tasked with helping to stabilize the district’s finances after the dismissal of the former Superintendent Daisy Morales, who has since been replaced by Lisa August Hulme as interim superintendent. Cazares has experience as a financial consultant and has worked closely with schools facing financial difficulties.
She previously served over four years as the chief financial officer for the Alameda Unified School District, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Cazares has been credited with helping the district recover from severe financial issues and has worked more hours than initially anticipated. She managed to reduce the budget by $2.8 million this year and is projected to save over $30 million in the next two years.
Patrick Gannon, a spokesman for the district, commented, “We anticipated a lot of work this year, but I don’t think we entirely grasped the extent. The new contract provisions aim to acknowledge that work.”
The proposed raise would bring her total compensation to around $230,000, with officials noting that savings were also achieved due to a vacancy in the budget department.
However, there’s frustration among teachers regarding the raises for administrators while they face budget cuts. Some executives feel their hourly pay does not reflect their contributions beyond standard working hours.
Kate Gillespie, a first-grade teacher, expressed in an email to the board that for years educators have “dedicated our time and energy to ‘making it work,'” yet they have not been compensated for additional work.
Several high-ranking district officials, including Hulme and Dr. Vicki Zanz, earn over $200,000 per year in salary and benefits.
Gannon indicated that the extent of additional work required from Cazares would be a topic of discussion in the upcoming meeting, emphasizing the need for transparency.
Leaders from the Santa Rosa Teachers Association voiced their belief that the raise is not justified, stating that increased workload does not warrant higher pay for classified staff.
