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Teachers tell Oakdale board rising insurance premiums, paperwork threaten classroom services
Summary
Several Oakdale teachers told the board that rising employee insurance costs and a drop in free/reduced-lunch form submissions threaten staff take-home pay and the continuation of some Title I–funded programs; the district said FERPA, state timelines and demographics constrained options but pledged more outreach.
Several teachers and school staff urged the Oakdale Joint Unified School District board on Jan. 12 to address rising employee insurance costs and to act to prevent program cuts that would affect vulnerable students.
"Because of the rise in the cost of insurance, my monthly premium increased $521 a month," Magnolia Elementary teacher Shauna DeDeo said during public comment, adding that her take-home pay dropped roughly $485.78 compared with last year. Becky Paragoy, who said she has taught at Paragoy Elementary for 20 years, said she takes a $562 monthly subsidy to opt out of district insurance and described the financial strain that has produced.
Teachers framed the comments as part of ongoing contract negotiations. "We are excited with the governor's latest budget proposal, and we hope that that brings, us closer and that we reach an agreement sooner rather than later," Omar Solides, representing the Oakdale Teachers Association, told the board earlier in the meeting.
Several speakers also warned that missing eligibility paperwork is already affecting programs. Kendra Peschman, who works in a Fair Oaks learning hub, said a drop in parents submitting free/reduced-lunch paperwork and related forms put the site at risk of losing a program next year. "This totally stinks," Peschman said. "These kids are going to suffer." She urged the district to push forms and help parents complete them so the site would not lose services.
District staff and trustees responded that the district plans more outreach but faces legal and logistical limits. A district official explained that federal and state timelines and FERPA restrictions limit how the district collects and uses student information, and that universal free meals have reduced parents' incentive to complete forms that drive Title I funding formulas. "When all lunches are free, the incentive is gone," a district staffer said, urging more parent education and suggesting the district will continue to explore options.
Board members acknowledged the hardship and said trustees want to support staff while being fiscally responsible. One trustee said the district must "walk a very fine line" to avoid future layoffs and ensure long-term fiscal stability.
The board did not take action on the requests during the meeting; it referred procedural items to staff and encouraged continued outreach and discussion during negotiations and future agenda items.
