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Union member warns district of compliance, litigation risk if bilingual psychologist technicians are not reinstated
Summary
A CSEA bilingual psychologist technician told the board that without bilingual psychologist technicians the district risks noncompliance with federal special-education timelines and potential costly legal settlements.
Bianca Lomeli, identified in the meeting as a CSEA bilingual psychologist technician, told the board on July 24 that unresolved labor negotiations have left positions unfilled and that the district risks missing federal special-education timelines when school opens.
“We must begin reviewing case lists, preparing assessment plans, and scheduling annual and triannual IEP meetings,” Lomeli said. “But none of this can be done effectively or legally without the support of the bilingual psychologist technicians.” She asked the board who would schedule meetings, contact non-English-speaking parents for consent, provide translations during interviews, and complete required documentation for compliance.
Lomeli cited recent settlement figures for other California districts, saying San Diego Unified paid “over $2,000,000” to settle due-process cases last year; Poway Unified paid $1,100,000; and Sweetwater paid nearly $400,000. She said California districts on average “lose over $1,000,000 annually in special education litigation,” and that a single case “can cost more than 10 times the annual salary of a BPT.” Lomeli told the board the estimated annual salary for a bilingual psychologist technician in this district is about $74,000.
Why it matters: Federal timelines for evaluations, consent, and IEP meetings are time-sensitive; the speaker argued that failing to have bilingual support in place could lead to noncompliance, service interruptions for students, and legal liability.
Lomeli urged the board to reach an agreement with CSEA, reinstate bilingual psychologist technicians, and “protect our students, maintain compliance, and preserve the integrity of this district.” She also said the Riverside County Office of Education was limiting what elected board members could propose, a claim the district did not resolve on the record.
The board did not announce a response or an immediate staffing decision during the meeting.
