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Teachers and classified staff urge caution on full‑day kindergarten pilot and press board for livable wages
Summary
Multiple public commenters asked trustees to review pilot data before voting on a switch to full‑day kindergarten, and classified employees described unaffordable health premiums for 6‑hour positions and urged the district to increase hours or lower premiums.
Public comment at the Carlsbad Unified board meeting on Feb. 11 focused heavily on early‑education scheduling and classified‑staff compensation.
Several teachers urged trustees not to decide the district's kindergarten schedule without seeing pilot data. Jana Scott, a Magnolia kindergarten teacher, asked trustees to visit her classroom during overlap times before the March vote and said she had not seen pilot data yet despite the program being about 75% complete for the school year.
"I just think it's really important since you have the power to make this vote that you get as much data," Scott said, asking trustees to observe what a combined schedule looks like for five‑year‑olds.
Jamie Rushing, a 26‑year teacher, argued that "quantity does not equate with quality" and warned that doubling the number of students present during core instruction would reduce individual attention. "A smaller class size makes far more significant difference than a longer clock," she said.
Classified employees and staff readers raised concerns about wages and health‑care premiums. Diane Vander Linden, a 6‑hour library media technician, said her monthly insurance premium increased about $100 this year and that a small hourly step increase does little to offset rising costs; she said increasing work hours by two per day would materially reduce her premium and help her family budget.
Jean Norman, a CUSD classified employee, and Chelsea Welsh, who read a statement from health tech Erica Mendez, described juggling multiple jobs, donating plasma and relying on seasonal work to make ends meet despite district employment.
"We are often compared to employees in ways that diminish our specialized contributions. I love my job, but I cannot survive on passion alone," Jean Norman said.
Trustees acknowledged the concerns. Superintendent Andrea Norman offered to connect with teachers about data requests for the kindergarten pilot. Board members also discussed the district's budget and one‑time grant funding during the LCAP portion of the meeting, noting the importance of prioritizing funds if grant streams expire.
Next steps: Trustees said they expect the March meeting to include the vote on the kindergarten schedule and that staff will follow up on the public requests for pilot data and for additional information regarding classified staff compensation and hours.
