BAKERSFIELD, CA - Bakersfield City School District teachers are demanding a raise. Although negotiations are still in the works, they say there hasn't been any progress.
Board members and the teachers union will meet Wednesday to negotiate.
Tuesday night, dozens of teachers rallied outside the BCSD board meeting, in an effort to have their request recognized. They chanted and held signs, asking the district for a salary increase.
Bakersfield Elementary Teachers Association President Michelle Johnson said, "We need to be a priority. We need to be valued and we're looking for a negotiation to get a 7% raise."
BCSD education board president Andrae Gonzales says they're collaborating with the union, but coming to an agreement will take some time.
Gonzales said, "They're working day in and day out in order to deliver the best outcomes for our children and so we honor them and we thank them, but there is a process to negotiations."
Johnson says they haven't gotten a raise since 2007 and their hard works isn't valued.
"We really want people to know that we're here for our children. We want them to be successful and we're working hard to make sure that happens," said Johnson.
While teachers say being in the classroom is preferable, they're not ruling out a strike if negotiations don't move forward.
Johnson said, "If we have to make a point, down the line, then that's will just have to happen, but at this moment, we're here everyday for our students and we hope that the board will recognize us, the superintendent will recognize us and go ahead and make us a priority and that we see negotiations come to an end here really soon."
Gonzales says the district can't make any deals until January, when they learn how much state funding they'll receive.
"As a board, we have to be prudent and measured with taxpayer dollars and we have to make sure that when we look at any type of salary increase, that we're looking at long term implications," said Gonzales.
The state education board meets January 16th to discuss funding priorities.
Board representatives say this information will be key to salary negotiations.
Board members and the teachers union will meet Wednesday to negotiate.
Tuesday night, dozens of teachers rallied outside the BCSD board meeting, in an effort to have their request recognized. They chanted and held signs, asking the district for a salary increase.
Bakersfield Elementary Teachers Association President Michelle Johnson said, "We need to be a priority. We need to be valued and we're looking for a negotiation to get a 7% raise."
BCSD education board president Andrae Gonzales says they're collaborating with the union, but coming to an agreement will take some time.
Gonzales said, "They're working day in and day out in order to deliver the best outcomes for our children and so we honor them and we thank them, but there is a process to negotiations."
Johnson says they haven't gotten a raise since 2007 and their hard works isn't valued.
"We really want people to know that we're here for our children. We want them to be successful and we're working hard to make sure that happens," said Johnson.
While teachers say being in the classroom is preferable, they're not ruling out a strike if negotiations don't move forward.
Johnson said, "If we have to make a point, down the line, then that's will just have to happen, but at this moment, we're here everyday for our students and we hope that the board will recognize us, the superintendent will recognize us and go ahead and make us a priority and that we see negotiations come to an end here really soon."
Gonzales says the district can't make any deals until January, when they learn how much state funding they'll receive.
"As a board, we have to be prudent and measured with taxpayer dollars and we have to make sure that when we look at any type of salary increase, that we're looking at long term implications," said Gonzales.
The state education board meets January 16th to discuss funding priorities.
Board representatives say this information will be key to salary negotiations.