After three powerful and inspiring days on the picket line, Las Lomitas Education Association (LLEA) won a tentative agreement this weekend, securing a pay increase and fully funded health benefits – while building a historic movement for public schools in the wealthiest ZIP Code in the United States.

LLEA members and supporters gathered outside the district office on Saturday, while bargaining was occurring.

LLEA and district administration resumed bargaining on Saturday afternoon following three days on strike in the streets of Atherton and Menlo Park. Members, students, families and community supporters gathered outside the district office, holding a candlelight vigil in hopes of an agreement that would invest in the future of Las Lomitas schools and end the strike. In the early evening, the LLEA bargaining team emerged from building and the crowd burst into emotion.

LLEA members and community celebrated on Saturday night after the Bargaining Team reached a tentative agreement.

“This victory will bring much-deserved stability to our school communities. We made the powerful decision to go on strike and we won the contract we need to stay in the community we love serving,” said LLEA Co-President Jennifer Montalvo. “The support from our classified colleagues, parents, students, families and community members kept us moving forward to victory. Together, we remained united and steadfast in winning for our students today and future generations.”

The tentative agreement includes a 16-percent raise over three years. LLEA also won a crucial improvement for the lives of members and their families – fully funded employee health benefits. Las Lomitas educators have struggled to make ends meet while working in richest place in the richest country in the world.

“For far too long, educators have been shouldering the burden of insufficient salary increases to keep up with the cost of living and paying more each year out of pocket for employee health benefits,” said LLEA Co-President Daniella Lefer. “This deal puts us on a path to ending the retention crisis and ensuring every student has a permanent and quality educator in the classroom.”

Las Lomitas parents and students were a welcome constant on the picket lines, offering hugs and support, and bringing food and refreshments. LLEA members canvassed neighborhoods after the second day of the strike, reaching out to the school community to explain the situation and ask for their support in reaching a fair agreement. Las Lomitas parent Debbie Fisher spoke at one of LLEA’s morning press conferences, saying that 11 educators had left the district last year and she worried more would leave without the resources and support they need and deserve.

“School districts prioritizing competitive salaries and supportive work environments see better retention rates,” Montalvo said. “We’ve faced high turnover for years and it took all of us coming together in our union to address this crisis for our students and each other.”

LLEA members will hold a ratification vote over the coming days. Educators and students are eager to be reunited on Monday morning.

LLEA Co-Presidents Daniella Lefer and Jennifer Montalvo

“We are so excited to go back to the classroom tomorrow and do what we love to do,” said Lefer. “Thank you to all our supporters, especially our parents, who were with us until the very end.”