Marin County’s Larkspur–Corte Madera School District just approved two-year contracts with its two main unions—the Larkspur-Corte Madera Education Association and the California School Employees Association—for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 fiscal years.
These agreements, reached after a series of pretty hands-on discussions, aim to balance compensation with program quality and fiscal stability across the district’s three campuses in Larkspur and Corte Madera. They’ll also ripple into nearby Marin communities like San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Ross.
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Two-Year Contracts Approved by Larkspur-Corte Madera School District
On February 10, the district board gave the green light to the new two-year contracts. Superintendent Brett Geithman called the negotiations constructive and said the result keeps Marin County education competitive without tipping the district into a structural deficit.
The district runs on about a $27 million annual budget and serves roughly 1,165 students. You’ll find those students at Henry C. Hall Middle School, Neil Cummins Elementary, and the Cove School, all supported by around 135 staff members.
In the coming months, families in towns like Sausalito, Tiburon, and San Anselmo might notice changes in classroom resources, after-school programs, and support services. The agreements could also influence neighboring areas like San Rafael and Novato.
Key provisions of the two-year agreements
Here’s a look at the core terms shaping these agreements for both unions, especially around compensation and benefits for Marin County teachers and classified staff:
- First-year pay increase: Both unions get a 4.51% raise. For classified staff, each worker gets this increase. For teachers, the 4.51% applies to the union as a whole, but every teacher also gets an individual $5,000 raise, no matter their experience.
- Off-salary-schedule bonuses: All union members will see $7,500 in off-salary-schedule bonuses, split into two payments during the 2026-27 school year, prorated by full-time status.
- Health and welfare caps: Each member’s benefit cap rises by $1,550 for both unions.
- Extra-duty stipends (effective July 1): Stipends for extra-duty positions jump 5%. Four new stipends join the mix — $1,500 for an AI lead, $3,000 for PBIS leadership, and $10,000 for either a Hall Middle School leadership lead or a jazz stipend.
- Athletics director stipend: The athletics director stipend drops from $5,000 to $3,000 in the new agreement.
Board President Amir Movafaghi credited years of working closely with the unions for making these creative compensation solutions possible. He believes this approach helps the district attract and keep qualified staff, while still protecting against a structural deficit—a real concern for Marin County districts facing inflation, high housing costs, and shifting enrollment in places like Larkspur, Corte Madera, San Rafael, and Mill Valley.
Budget context and school footprint
The Larkspur-Corte Madera district covers the Larkspur-Corte Madera area and stretches into nearby Marin neighborhoods. It manages three schools: Henry C. Hall Middle School, Neil Cummins Elementary, and the Cove School.
With a total budget of about $27 million, the district employs roughly 135 staff to serve about 1,165 students. That’s a footprint reflecting Marin County’s close-knit, family-friendly towns, from San Anselmo to Sausalito and beyond.
Parents in Corte Madera and Larkspur, and even those commuting from Greenbrae and Fairfax, will be watching to see how the new stipends and bonuses affect after-school programs, arts, and PBIS initiatives. The focus on after-hours leadership roles, creative stipends, and better health benefits shows a broader commitment to supporting teachers and staff, especially as living costs keep rising in Marin County.
Community impact and the way forward
The district wants to keep staffing stable, maintain high program quality, and stick to careful budgeting by putting collaboration first. In Marin County, districts from San Rafael to Ross often compare notes, so the Larkspur-Corte Madera board’s approach might just give others a real-world model for positive labor relations.
For folks in Larkspur, Corte Madera, and nearby towns, these contracts show a steady, forward-thinking investment in classroom learning. They also keep fiscal discipline in mind—something local officials and families hope lasts as enrollment shifts along Marin’s coast.
Larkspur-Corte Madera’s ongoing teamwork with its unions gives a practical example for how teachers, classified staff, and administrators can all share in the district’s progress. Families from Mill Valley to San Rafael can expect a continued focus on student success, strong programs, and sustainable budgets at Hall Middle, Neil Cummins, and the Cove School.
Here is the source article for this story: Larkspur-Corte Madera School District settles 2-year contracts
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