In a recent interview, the focus was on the wealthiest ZIP code in the United States: 94027, located on the San Francisco Peninsula. This affluent area is home to the Las Lomitas Elementary School District, where educators began striking on October 23 to demand higher salaries and improved healthcare and retirement benefits.
According to a report from Bay Area NBC, 94027 represents the pinnacle of wealth across the nation. The Las Lomitas school district, which serves the cities of Atherton and Menlo Park, has confirmed that the strike was initiated by the Las Lomitas Education Association, representing the educators.
Educators have expressed frustration over working without a contract since July 2023. They believe the district has the resources to offer competitive salaries and reliable healthcare. However, many faculty members are now facing the possibility of leaving the school district or exiting the education field entirely due to inadequate compensation.
Jennifer Montalvo, a union leader, highlighted the frequent turnover among teachers, emphasizing that students ultimately suffer the most. It seems paradoxical that in the nation’s wealthiest ZIP code, educators still struggle to earn a sustainable living with enough benefits.
Both Atherton and Menlo Park are located in San Mateo County, just south of San Francisco.
As for the district’s latest offer announced on Tuesday evening, it includes a 7% salary increase retroactive to the 2023-24 school year, followed by a 3% raise starting in 2024-25. They also proposed a tenure stipend of $3,358 for all teachers effective July 1, 2024, and 100% coverage for healthcare benefits equivalent to a Kaiser plan beginning January 1, 2025.
On the other hand, the union’s proposals call for an 8% salary increase retroactive to the 2023-24 school year, an additional 8% starting in 2024-25, a floating cap of 110% coverage under the Kaiser plan from January 1, 2025, and the elimination of costs associated with CalPERS retirement accounts, which amounts to $1,812 per person.
