A new California law has triggered a wave of school board pay raises across San Diego County, with several districts approving increases of 300 to 400 percent — even as those same districts grapple with budget deficits and staff layoffs.

Assembly Bill 1390, authored by Assemblymember José Luis Solache, Jr., updated the state's cap on school board member stipends for the first time in 42 years. The change was designed to account for decades of inflation and to attract more candidates to serve on boards.

Cajon Valley Union School District — which serves El Cajon and surrounding East County communities — voted to raise its board member stipend from approximately $600 to $2,000 per month. Districts in Carlsbad, Oceanside, and Escondido Elementary have also passed similar increases.

The timing has drawn sharp criticism from district employees. Mark Reagles, president of Cajon Valley's classified employees union, said some staff members such as bus attendants and campus aides earn less per month than what board members will now receive as a stipend. "The law is on their side," Reagles said. "Just because they can, that doesn't mean they should."

Brandi Krepps, with the Escondido Elementary Educators Association, echoed the frustration. Her district voted Thursday to approve the increase even as site budgets have been slashed. "Our site budgets have been slashed, stating that there are budgetary constraints, yet we have money to give our school board members an additional stipend," she said.

The South Bay Union School District was also set to vote on a 335 percent raise Thursday — the same week it closed a school due to declining enrollment. The district said the raise had already been factored into its budget and approved by the San Diego County Office of Education.