Santa Rosa School Board to Discuss $76,000 Raise for Interim Fiscal Chief Two Weeks After Sweeping Layoff Notices

The Santa Rosa City Schools Board of Education is set to consider a $76,000 salary increase for its interim chief financial officer, a move that comes just two weeks after the district issued sweeping layoff notices to dozens of teachers and staff. The proposed raise would boost the interim CFO's annual compensation to approximately $200,000, according to district documents.

The board will discuss the matter at its regular meeting on Thursday, May 28, 2026. The layoff notices, sent on May 14, affected 87 certificated employees, including teachers, counselors, and librarians, as part of a budget reduction plan aimed at closing a $12 million deficit.

Critics argue that the timing of the raise appears tone-deaf, while district officials maintain that the interim CFO has taken on additional responsibilities and that the compensation is necessary to retain qualified leadership during a financial crisis. The board has not yet voted on the proposal.