Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1541528
Teachers in Calaveras Unified School District (CUSD) are fac- ing a crisis that makes it nearly impossible to survive on their wages once health care costs are factored in. is problem isn't unique to Calaveras. Our neighboring district in Amador is also struggling with unaffordable health benefits. Across California, rural schools are at risk of losing teachers because it has simply become impossible to pay extraordinarily high premiums and still make ends meet in today's economy. Between 2021 and 2025, out-of-pocket health premiums for teachers in CUSD have risen any- where from 38% to 78% depending on the plan. For the 2025–2026 school year, the "lowest-cost" Bronze plan will climb from $375 to $672 a month — more than $8,000 a year — and that's before a $10,000 deductible. e most comprehensive plan requires teachers to pay $2,500 a month, or more than $30,000 a year, just to have full coverage. What does this mean in real life? • A first-year teacher earning $56,355 will take home $49,182 before taxes under the Bronze plan, or as little as $28,329 with the highest coverage. • A mid-career teacher with six years of service and a salary of $68,631 can see their take-home fall to $40,605 under full coverage. • Even a 14-year veteran with advanced degrees, earning $89,255, is reduced to $61,229 under the most comprehensive plan. Because health care costs are rising faster than salaries, many teachers will actually take home less in 2025–2026 than they did in 2024–2025. See the chart on the next page for the break- down of plan costs and impact on take-home pay. e result is clear: Teachers are being forced to consider leav- ing CUSD, or education altogether. When that happens, it is our students who pay the price. Each time a teacher is forced out because they cannot afford to stay, students lose the guidance of experienced mentors and the high-quality education they deserve. Positions remain unfilled, class sizes rise and the hope of attracting qualified teachers dwindles. Our students should not be the ones bearing the consequences of a broken system. If we want to attract and retain teachers in our rural schools, something must change. Affordable health care is not a luxury, it is a necessity. With- out it, both teachers and students will continue to lose. This is not just a Calaveras problem. This is a California problem. Rural districts are losing teachers to the crushing cost of health care. If we truly believe in the value of public education, this cannot continue. We urge community members to reach out to their legislators and demand change. Protect- ing teachers from being priced out of the profession is the only way to protect our public schools … and our students deserve nothing less. Jade Potter is vice president of Calaveras Unified Educators Assn. is article ran in the Ledger Dispatch (Amador County) in early September. Health Care Costs Hurting Rural Educators Teachers cannot afford health care, and students are paying the price By Jade Potter 16 cta.org Spotlight Jade Potter