Strike day 3: Dublin superintendent says what teachers want could lead to 'huge amount' of cuts

DUBLIN, Calif. (KGO) -- It's day three of the first teacher strike in Dublin School District's history.

Teachers are demanding a 3.5% pay raise, better health care coverage, smaller class sizes and to keep elementary school counselors.

"It has taken a huge mental load on us and most importantly on the students, they are not learning. We are here; we are not doing what we love to do. It's a sacrifice for everybody but we are doing it for our students," said Jerid Lui, teacher at Fallon Middle School.

Multiple parents urged the school district to reach an agreement soon.

"What the teachers are asking for not unreasonable. They are asking for a salary increase that is a mere percentage that does not even make up for inflation so if in fact you are not giving them this raise, they are taking a pay cut every single year," said Lily Chai, Dublin parent.

RELATED: Dublin teachers strike for 2nd day; roughly $21M difference between district and union's proposals

We sat with the Dublin Unified School District Superintendent Chris Funk who said progress has been made.

"Our current offer is 2.1% on the salary schedule which is a huge jump for us because originally, it was an off-schedule stipend that we offered and to make single employees 100% coverage in health in the next 18 months," said Chris Funk, Dublin School District Superintendent.

Superintendent Funk says the current offer is equivalent to $8.9 million over the next three years for the district.

"Financially, can the school district reach a 3.5% pay increase?" ABC7 Eyewitness News reporter Luz Pena asked.

"Well, we can do anything but that would result in a huge amount of more cuts, so the question is- does the community want the board to approve a financial increase that will then decimate school site report?" said Superintendent Funk.

Superintendent Funk said the union's offer would translate to $32 million over the next three years and could lead to 60 to 80 teacher layoffs.

"They need to work with our bargaining team, sit down in good faith and trust us and work with us," said Lui.

Teachers told us they have tried to negotiate since the beginning of the school year.

According to the school district, they have lost close to $600,000 during the last two days of low attendance.

The school district's spokesperson said, "The current budget deficit, as reported in last night's board meeting, is $11,068,215. The projected deficit for the 26-27 school year is $5,570,177, and for 27-28 it's $4,408,647. Obviously, those projections could change as a result of many factors, including whatever settlement is reached between the district and the union."