As Brentwood teachers push back on unpaid hours, Heritage High clubs hit pause button 

AT THE START OF A NEW SCHOOL YEAR at Heritage High School in Brentwood, there is a buzz of excitement as students rush to start clubs. But this year, the energy has dimmed. Despite the 15 new club applications, many clubs are struggling to get off the ground as teachers and the district continue to negotiate over wages and working conditions.

Recently, teachers in the Liberty Union High School District began “work-to-rule,” meaning they only perform their duties within their contracted hours — 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The move, part of ongoing negotiations that began in September between the Liberty Education Association (LEA) and the district, has disrupted club formation across schools, including Heritage.