Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Classified Employees Appreciation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lawndale trustees adopt resolution recognizing Classified Employees Appreciation Week; union urges respect and fair pay
Summary
The board granted consensus to move forward a resolution recognizing Classified Employees Appreciation Week; a representative of the Lawndale Federation of Classified Employees urged respect, fair wages and a seat at the table for classified staff who keep schools running.
The Lawndale Elementary School District Board of Trustees on May 15 granted consensus to move up and consider a board resolution recognizing Classified Employees Appreciation Week and heard a public statement from the Lawndale Federation of Classified Employees praising classified staff and urging respect and better working conditions.
At the start of the meeting, Superintendent Castro asked the board for consensus to move item 9.05—the board resolution for Classified Employees Appreciation Week—and trustees agreed. Later, Carl Williams, speaking on behalf of the Lawndale Federation of Classified Employees, thanked the board and described classified staff as “the quiet strength behind every school day,” listing duties such as cleaning classrooms, supporting instruction, preparing meals and maintaining safe campuses.
Williams said these roles are essential and called for year-round respect shown “through fair wages, safe working conditions, opportunities to grow, a seat at the table in decisions that impact our work and our students.” He described classified staff as often “the first to face students in the morning and the steady support they rely on throughout the school day.”
Trustees and other speakers offered brief remarks of thanks. Trustee Morales said classified employees are “the backbone of the schools” and described watching office staff jug multiple tasks during arrival and dismissal; Trustee Perez and others echoed appreciation. The board and superintendent also provided small tokens of appreciation and posed for photos with classified representatives.
Why it matters: Classified employees perform day-to-day operational duties that affect student safety, food service, classroom readiness and front-office operations. The resolution and public remarks highlighted district recognition of those roles and called attention to compensation, working conditions and inclusion in site-level decisions.
What’s next: The resolution recognizes Classified Employees Appreciation Week; no policy or compensation change was adopted at the meeting. Trustees discussed continuing partnerships with classified staff and thanked them publicly.
