In a recent government meeting, Carissa Carrera from the Coachella Valley Teachers Association (CVTA) raised significant concerns regarding staffing shortages within the district's schools. Out of 22 school sites, only five are fully staffed with administrators, leaving 14 assistant principal (AP) vacancies and three sites without a principal. Carrera highlighted that despite budgetary constraints communicated by Superintendent Dr. Esparza during her listening tour, there appears to be a disconnect between budget allocations and the actual filling of these critical positions.

Carrera criticized the district's plan to split AP responsibilities between multiple sites, which she argued would double the workload for these administrators while diminishing their effectiveness. She emphasized the essential role APs play in maintaining stability and support for both staff and students, questioning how the district can uphold its three-tier support system under such conditions.

The meeting also touched on broader issues of budget cuts affecting teaching staff and classroom sizes, with Carrera expressing concern over the historical number of combined classes at elementary sites and significant reductions in site budgets. She urged the board to reconsider its priorities, suggesting that the current approach seems to favor administrative growth over direct support for students.

Following Carrera's comments, the board moved into a closed session where several actions were taken, including the approval of multiple expulsion cases and the appointment of Marco Page as the new elementary principal at Oasis School, effective October 11, 2024. The board also received a report from district legal counsel regarding ongoing litigation but did not take any final action on that matter.

As the meeting concluded, the board opened the floor for public comments, inviting further discussion on the issues raised. The concerns about administrative staffing and budget priorities are expected to be revisited in upcoming budget committee meetings, as stakeholders seek clarity and transparency in decision-making processes.