CVUSD board adopts fiscal stabilization plan; community urges preservation of nurses, bilingual specialists and expanded‑learning director

The Coachella Valley Unified School District Board of Education voted to approve a fiscal stabilization plan and related personnel‑reduction resolutions after more than four hours of public comment and a closed‑session personnel action.

Supporters of several district programs told the board the cuts would damage services students depend on. “I’m not just advocating and fighting for jobs but more importantly, I’m fighting for our students’ lives, health and safety,” said Teresa Nickel, a credentialed registered school nurse, describing an on‑campus anaphylactic incident to illustrate the role of nurses in keeping students safe. Bianca Lomely, a bilingual psychologist technician, said the proposed elimination of nine bilingual psychologist technician positions “threaten[s] to disrupt the essential services we provide to students and families across the Coachella Valley Unified School District.”

Nut graf: The board approved the district’s stabilization plan and passed resolutions authorizing certificated and classified reductions; the actions set in motion notices and potential layoffs while labor negotiations and further analysis continue. Speakers at the meeting urged changes to the plan and asked trustees to use negotiation and alternative approaches to preserve positions that directly affect student services, including school nursing, bilingual special‑education support, library/media assistants, behavior and wellness staff, and expanded‑learning staff led by Bea Gonzalez.

Board action and votes: At the meeting the board moved from open session to closed session and, in closed session, directed release of one certificated employee (ID…