East Whittier board preliminarily approves layoff resolution amid union objections

The East Whittier City School District Board of Education on Feb. 2 voted to preliminarily adopt a resolution listing positions that may be subject to reduction or elimination, a move district leaders said is required by deadlines but which labor representatives and teachers said will harm student services.

Joseph Riley, president of the district’s CSEA chapter, urged trustees to reject the item, saying the listed classifications perform ‘‘services directly to our students and the community’’ and that cuts would eliminate instructional assistants, opportunity-room staff and licensed vocational nurses who provide medical support. ‘‘Please vote no on discussion item number 2,’’ Riley said.

Brent Volkman, president of the employee association for East Whittier, told trustees the certificated list includes ‘‘13 temporary teachers, 4 first‑year probationary teachers, and 12 second‑year probationary teachers for a total of 29 teachers being laid off.’’ He asked the board to find alternate solutions rather than reduce instructional capacity.

District staff, including assistant superintendent Nelia Vargas, said the board must present a complete list at this preliminary stage because an MOU with CSEA has not been finalized. Vargas told the board staff are ‘‘in the process’’ of negotiating adjustments that could remove certain positions from the list and that the final public actions will take place in May.

Superintendent remarks and board discussion made clear the February vote was preliminary. Trustees were told the list could be shortened if an agreement is reached; the final layoff actions are scheduled for the May board meeting. The board adopted the preliminary resolution by recorded vote (the meeting transcript records the motion as passing with a 5–1 tally).

What’s next: staff said they expect to return to the board in May with any changes resulting from a signed MOU; trustees retain discretion then to remove names from the list or alter the proposed reductions.

Votes and procedural notes: the resolution was presented as an action item with the motion made and seconded; district staff repeatedly emphasized the need to meet statutory and timeline requirements for listing potential layoffs while bargaining continues.

Community reaction: multiple teachers and parents who spoke during citizen communication described large class sizes and students with multiple needs — for example, one teacher said a classroom of 32 students included six students on IEPs and several receiving intervention services — and said further reductions would worsen instructional conditions.

The board’s preliminary approval does not immediately terminate contracts; district staff reiterated that final determinations will be subject to bargaining outcomes and the May public actions.