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Teachers union contests district projections as trustees hear reserve outlook
Summary
At an Aug. 5 Central Union High School District board meeting, district leaders presented multi‑year budget projections showing reserves falling while the teachers union said the district currently holds a larger ending balance and urged renewed pay negotiations.
Gavin Oduenas, president of the El Centro Secondary Teachers Association (ECSTA), told the Central Union High School District Board of Trustees on Aug. 5 that the district’s “total ending balance…is currently at $21,600,131 or an actual real number of 26%,” and urged the board to continue negotiations on pay. The district’s superintendent, Dr. Farkas, and assistant superintendent of business Marcy Mendoza presented a 45‑day budget update that projected reserves would decline in the multi‑year outlook and cautioned about falling toward minimum thresholds.
Why it matters: board reserve levels and multi‑year projections shape what the district can promise teachers, maintain programs, and allocate to classrooms. The union said available funds justify continuing salary talks; district staff emphasized uncertainty in multi‑year projections and the risk of reserves falling below safe levels.
District presentation: Superintendent Dr. Farkas described the district’s budget projection and reserve goal, telling the trustees, “Anytime a reserve is below 3%, you're heading towards a negative budget, and it's a huge no no.” The superintendent and Marcy Mendoza presented an estimated‑actual snapshot and a three‑year projection that, if current assumptions hold, would lower reserves toward the low single digits in later years. Mendoza told the board the district is targeting a roughly 10.49% reserve in the near term and urged prudence as costs rise.
Union presentation: ECSTA president Gavin Oduenas said the district’s estimated actuals show a larger current balance than the board’s 16% internal reserve policy requires. Oduenas told trustees the difference between a 26% ending balance and the board’s 16% reserve goal “is $8,350,397,” and asked, “why can't we continue to negotiate?” He also said — citing his calculation — that a 1% salary increase for teachers would cost about $365,000.
Discussion vs. formal action: The budget item was presented as an informational 45‑day update; the board took no formal vote on new budget policy or salary funding at the meeting. Oduenas’ remarks were a union presentation during the ECSTA/CSEA comments portion of the agenda; they did not constitute a formal board directive.
What remains unresolved: The board’s multi‑year projection and the union’s calculation rely on different frames — projected revenues/expenses versus estimated actual ending balances and assumed future federal funding. District staff said figures are estimates subject to change once audited financials and actual attendance counts are finalized. Oduenas asked the board to reopen negotiations; trustees did not announce any immediate action.
Looking ahead: Mendoza said she will present further budget detail the next day at the district’s staff welcome event. The union urged continued bargaining over compensation based on the balance it reported.
