SRA math teacher Cynthia Nadolny addresses the Santa Rosa Academy board of directors during public comments Tuesday.
Santa Rosa Academy’s ongoing teacher contract negotiations remained a point of concern during Tuesday’s board of directors meeting, where educators and families questioned the school’s financial priorities and officials provided additional context about its finances.
The meeting followed an Oct. 6 town hall hosted by the school’s certificated staff union, where educators outlined their Campaign for Respect and called for competitive pay and better working conditions.
During public comments, Morgan Wood, who has taught at Santa Rosa Academy for 10 years, said she previously took on additional responsibilities to supplement her income. After stepping away this year, she realized she was bringing home about $400 to $500 less each month.
“How can I take the break I desperately need if I can’t afford just to be a teacher?” Wood asked. “Loving where you work is not enough when you can make significantly more somewhere else.”
Students and parents also raised concerns about staff turnover. One junior, who identified himself as having special needs, said frequent teacher changes have disrupted his education and made it difficult for students to build relationships with their teachers.
Brittney Cairns, the union’s lead negotiator, said nearly all proposals addressing teacher burnout and workloads had been rejected by school administration without explanation. She also said Santa Rosa Academy ranks 19th out of 20 charter schools in Riverside County for teacher compensation.
Cairns said independent financial experts consulted by the union concluded the school could afford competitive raises without using its reserves. She questioned the board’s goal of maintaining 120 days of operating expenses in reserves, arguing that money should instead address current staffing needs.
“We are a nonprofit public school, not a corporate hedge fund,” Cairns said. “Taxpayer dollars are intended to educate children today, and they are being locked away for hypothetical rainy days tomorrow.”
During a financial presentation, ICON School Management reported that Santa Rosa Academy’s adopted budget projects a $978,980 surplus for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
The school’s financial representative explained that a projected surplus does not necessarily mean funding is available for ongoing salary increases. Reserves help cover funding delays and future expenses, while a significant portion of last year’s financial gains came from a one-time federal reimbursement.Â
The representative also said state funding has not yet caught up with increased enrollment, with additional funding expected in February 2027.
Board president Eric Russell asked what could be done to increase teacher compensation. The financial representative said increasing enrollment and reducing expenses could help, although further evaluation would be needed.
Russell expressed support for higher teacher pay while maintaining financial stability.
“We want teachers to get as much as we can,” Russell said.
Superintendent Robert Hennings said the school is working to refinance existing bonds and construction debt to reduce expenses. He also said the academy has applied for state facilities funding, which could provide approximately $2 million if approved.
No decision on teacher salary increases was announced. Contract negotiations remain ongoing.
