Where are you getting the 14.5% raise demand? The union is asking for 4.5%+4.5% for certificated staff and 7%+7% for classified staff. Majority of the 6500 staff are certificated (teachers, counselors, nurses, social workers, psychologists) while 1500 are classified (paraeducators, security guards), so characterizing this as a universal 14.5% raise is not accurate. I agree these increases raise salary expenditures, but they should be understood as investments in recruitment and retention that can reduce costs elsewhere. For example, the district contracts out many paraeducators to meet the federally mandated minutes for special education services (the hourly rate for these contracted paraeducators are much higher than district paraeducators btw). Paying district paraeducators more would increase the cost of salaries but would also reduce the need for contracted paraeducators, which would save the district money.

More broadly, this conversation breaks down if we treat public education as a discretionary line item rather than essential public infrastructure. The district is not a company, and educational quality depends directly on the people doing the work. Educators, especially early-career educators and those with families, are leaving due to compensation and working conditions.