Dear AUSD Community,

We know that our neighboring district, West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD), recently reached a tentative agreement with its teachers’ union following several days of labor action. We are glad to see our colleagues in WCCUSD moving toward stability and support for their educators. It is also important that our Albany community stays informed about how regional developments like this shape AUSD’s own compensation structure and long-term budget planning.

Why Does Reviewing Other Salary Agreements In Our Region Matter?

Agreements in nearby districts influence:

• Teacher recruitment

• Staff retention

• Labor market expectations

• Long-term planning

Looking at regional trends helps us understand the broader landscape and stay competitive and stable. It is equally important to recognize that AUSD’s context—our enrollment trends, revenue structure, size, and long-term commitments—differs from that of other districts. Regional information provides helpful insight, but our own budget development process ultimately shapes the compensation packages we are able to offer our staff.

By grounding our decisions in our specific context and community priorities, we ensure they remain responsible, sustainable, and aligned with the needs of our students and educators.

Our Commitment To Teachers And Staff

We care deeply about our teachers and staff. Their expertise, compassion, and daily work with students are at the heart of our mission. Students flourish when the adults who support them feel valued, respected, and supported.

AUSD remains committed to:

• Attracting and retaining excellent educators

• Supporting meaningful professional learning

• Ensuring compensation—salary and benefits—is fair, competitive, and sustainable

• Protecting the long-term financial stability of our district

As we move into our budgeting season, I want to share how we approach this work and why it matters. Our goal is always the same: to make thoughtful, responsible decisions that support our students and honor the people who serve them every day.

As part of our annual budgeting process, we look closely at enrollment trends, revenue projections, and staffing costs to ensure we are fiscally responsible while investing in what matters most: our students and the people who serve them. At last night’s Board of Education meeting, we shared our First Interim Budget Report and Multi-Year Projections outlining our financial outlook for the years ahead.

The Board of Education is ultimately responsible for the district’s fiscal solvency and has granted the superintendent the authority to develop and propose salary and benefit parameters that reflect both our financial reality and our commitment to supporting educators.

What We Are Committed To During Budget Development

• Predictable, transparent budgeting

• Timely hiring

• Strong, inclusive community engagement

• Alignment of School Site Plans to our Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP)

• Building trust through shared understanding of our goals

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Budget Development Process?

It is our yearly cycle of aligning resources with student needs, staffing requirements, district goals, and state mandates.

What is the Budget Development Timeline?

Budget development begins in late fall and continues through June:

• Enrollment projections inform staffing and program planning

• Early staffing work supports timely hiring and strong candidate pools

• School Site Council and LCAP engagement ensures alignment with district priorities

• The Governor’s January Budget Proposal gives the first statewide funding outlook

• The May Revision provides updated economic and revenue assumptions

• Draft budget presentations are shared in the spring for Board and community review

• The final budget is adopted in June

How is the community a part of this process?

We gather guidance and feedback from our community through:

• Staff, student, and family surveys

• School Site Councils

• Community meetings and town halls

• Leadership groups such as the Districtwide Instructional Leadership Team

• Student leadership groups

This input helps shape priorities and ensures resources align with what our community values most.

How can community members stay informed and engaged?

• Attend Board meetings (January 13 Budget Study Session)

• Participate in School Site Council discussions

• Join budget forums and town halls (dates coming soon)

• Follow ParentSquare updates

• Complete surveys

• Visit our district website www.ausdk12.org

• Reach out with questions at any time—we welcome partnership and dialogue!

We hope this context is helpful as regional conversations continue to evolve. A stable and supported workforce is essential for our students, our schools, and the long-term health of our district. AUSD remains committed to investing in the people who make our schools exceptional while safeguarding the financial stability that allows our work to continue for years to come.

Sincerely, 

Sara Stone

Superintendent

Albany Unified School District