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Board approves Prop 28 arts partnerships despite parent concerns about teacher layoffs and conflicts
Summary
Trustees approved two arts providers under the Prop 28 plan — Raices Cultura and After School Music Academy — while parents and CVTA questioned whether the program replaces 21 arts teachers with contractors and raised potential conflicts of interest.
The Coachella Valley Unified School District board voted Monday to approve two arts program partners under its Prop 28 elementary plan while facing vocal objections from teachers and parents who said layoffs and contractor selection risked inequity and possible conflicts of interest.
Carissa Carrera, speaking for the Coachella Valley Teachers Association, said the district had laid off 21 arts teachers and was now proposing to replace them with coordinators and outside vendors. "Two of these entities have very close ties to some of our board members," she said, naming RAICES Cultura and a local program run by relatives of a trustee and asking the board for transparency about payments and scope.
District presenters led by Tara Hitchin described the program as an option-based model for principals to use Prop 28 funding to provide K–6 arts through visual arts, theater and instrumental music. The presenters said the district would not be hiring a central arts coordinator because of budget constraints; elementary directors would take oversight responsibilities. Karen (budget lead) explained that Prop 28 funding is site-directed and varies by prior-year enrollment and free-and-reduced-price-meal percentage; the district retains 1% for indirect costs.
Trustees pressed presenters on whether prior VAPA programs had credentialed art teachers and on the fate of previously funded VAPA teachers. Presenters and trustees said many of the previous VAPA staff were multi-subject teachers who had been reassigned; the board asked staff to provide specific counts and reemployment-list details.
The board then took two roll-call votes: approval of Raices Cultura's proposal passed unanimously (item 9.1). Approval of After School Music Academy (item 9.2) passed with one abstention from Trustee Thomas Tortoise.
Carissa Carrera urged the board to ensure clear procurement disclosures and to monitor whether the new model results in equitable arts access across sites. Trustees said site-based plans will vary and that they will monitor implementation.
Next steps: Site principals will finalize Prop 28 plans and the district will complete MOUs and board approvals for specific partner agreements. Trustees asked staff to provide follow-up details on how many VAPA teachers were reassigned and which services will be site-managed.
