PIEDMONT — Piedmont Unified School District board trustees at their recent meeting approved a salary boost for some 30 adult education instructors.
“The rate paid to instructors has not been raised in many years and has fallen behind the rate necessary to retain these instructors,” Superintendent Randy Booker said.
The instructors’ rate will go from $30 to $35 per hour, effective June 1. The district surveyed other area adult school programs in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, where pay ranged from $31 to $43 per hour. Booker said the district has to remain competitive to retain the instructors who teach community-related courses such as French, digital photography, cooking, weight training and more.
“These experts are in demand, not only in Piedmont but throughout the Bay Area,” Booker noted.
The Piedmont Adult School program is financially self-sufficient. The class fees cover the instructors; pay, materials and other associated costs. Class fees will be adjusted accordingly in the summer adult school brochure. The pay increase does not affect high school diploma completion courses that are taught by a certificated teacher who is part of the Associated Teachers of Piedmont (APT) bargaining unit. That course is funded by the state.
In other business, Jill Stenton of the Eide Bailly auditing firm told the board that district financial practices were sound and resulted in a “good opinion” from the independent auditors. There were no discrepancies noted. The board had till Jan. 31 to accept the 2018-19 fiscal year report, which was unanimously approved.
“There was no material weakness in internal controls,” Stenton said. “No problems.
“I have to thank Ruth Alahydoian for a seamless process with her team, many of whom are new.”
Alahydoian is the chief financial officer for the district, who was hired after the departure of Song Chin-Bendib.
The board also held a short meeting on Jan. 13 to review goals for the Local Control Accountability Plan, a tool for educational agencies to set goals, plan actions and leverage resources to improve student outcomes. It is overseen by the California Education Department.
