UPDATE: Natomas Teachers, Parents Upset Over Administrator Raises

NATOMAS (CBS13) — Parents, teachers and rank-and-file employees are upset that the Natomas Unified School District is cutting teachers but giving raises to top administrators.

Parents and workers were rallying at the meeting at Inderkum High School on Tuesday night. But despite the uproar, the school board voted in favor of the raises and layoffs

As many as 26 teaching and 18 staff positions are to be cut, while administrators will get a combined $100,000 in raises.

Walt Hanline, the interim superintendent who was brought in seven months ago after the district was nearly taken over by the state, says the increases are needed to keep talented administrators from leaving for higher-paying jobs.

"We have cleaned up a mess financially," he said.

But parents say the district has its priorities backwards.

"Administrators make six-figure incomes," parent Damien Miller said, "and the teachers are barely make half that, plus they're having to buy their own supplies as it is for classrooms. So it's pretty disgusting, actually."

The district says students will not lose programs and it will actually save $400,000 with the cuts.