The East Whittier City School District Board of Education voted to approve a fiscal stabilization plan and its first interim report that projects the district will stop deficit spending by the 2027-28 school year if planned reductions and revenue measures are implemented.

The vote followed extensive public comment from teachers, parents and students who urged the board to reconsider proposed eliminations of bilingual instructional aides that support the Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program. "Removing instructional aids does not remove the need," Celida Gutierrez, a DLI kindergarten teacher at Series Elementary, told the board, saying early bilingual support reduces later intervention needs. "Without bilingual aids, it will be the only I will be the only language model in the classroom," she said.

Assistant Superintendent for Business presented the fiscal plan and first interim report, saying the district used assumptions from the stabilization plan to build three-year projections and moved 10 instructional specialists and 10 instructional aides to restricted ELOP funding to free general fund dollars. The presentation noted that Local Control Funding Formula grants account for about 72.4% of district revenue and that staffing accounts for roughly 81% of expenditures. The presenter said the plan's multiyear projections show the district will no longer deficit spend in 2027-28 if the plan is followed.

Parents and staff warned the board the DLI cuts would harm students and program equity. "Losing the aids would severely impact this program," said Grama Guerrero Lopez, a founding DLI teacher, describing aides as "central partners in delivering high quality, culturally responsive instruction." Parents said the DLI program has attracted students districtwide and that removing aides risks destabilizing a program that has grown over five years.

Superintendent Patterson and staff replied that Series (the DLI site) receives "over $200,000 extra" to support the program and that some intervention roles elsewhere are funded through Title I. Patterson acknowledged the proposal could be adjusted before the February layoff item is final, and said the district could explore staggered approaches or targeted kindergarten support as possible offsets, but that the county deadline required submission of a positive certification at this time. "We have to submit a positive certification to the county," the superintendent said, adding the board could revisit specifics if funding changes.

During board discussion, members pressed for alternatives and emphasized the constraints of declining attendance and funding. A motion to approve the fiscal stabilization plan and first interim report was moved and seconded and was approved in the roll-call vote. The board chair directed staff to correct the agenda item labelling so the record shows it as an action item and said the district will return layoff specifics in February.

What happens next: The approved first interim report will be submitted to the Los Angeles County Office of Education. The board indicated it may revisit staffing decisions before the February meeting if offsets or new funding arise.