Glendale Unified Increases November One-Time Employee Payment from One Percent to Three Percent

Improved year-end financial position allows District to increase payment while maintaining required reserves. 

GLENDALE, Calif., September 24, 2026 — The Glendale Unified School District Board of Education has authorized the District to move forward with increasing the previously approved November 1, 2026, one-time, off-schedule payment for eligible employees from one percent to three percent. 

The increased payment will be presented for formal approval at the September 29 Board of Education meeting and will apply to eligible members of the Glendale Teachers Association (GTA), California School Employees Association (CSEA), and Glendale Schools Management Association (GSMA). Eligible employees will receive a total of three percent off-schedule payment on November 1 rather than the one percent payment previously approved by the Board at its June 23 meeting.

Glendale Unified initially announced the one percent payment for GTA members on May 27 as part of a broader agreement on wages for the 2026–2027 school year. That agreement also included an ongoing two percent wage increase effective July 1, 2026.

After closing the books for the 2025–2026 fiscal year, the District determined that its ending fund balance was higher than previously projected, particularly in one-time funds. This improved financial position allows the District to increase the payment without creating an ongoing financial obligation or affecting its required reserve.

“Our employees make an incredible difference for Glendale Unified students every day, and we are grateful for everything they do,” said GUSD Board of Education President Kathleen Cross. “Increasing this one-time compensation while maintaining responsible fiscal stewardship is one way we can honor our commitment to our employees, recognize their contributions, and reinforce our Board’s priority of supporting and retaining a thriving workforce.”

Glendale Unified remains committed to ensuring the District’s long-term financial stability while celebrating the employees who help our students thrive. 

###