Teachers association urges focus on pay, class sizes and resources; CSEA welcomes campus safety aides

Arjuna Aldridge, president of the Teachers Association of Paramount, addressed the board on bargaining priorities and LCAP implementation. Aldridge praised certificated staff for their work and urged the district to ensure that implementation of new state laws includes adequate training, resources and collaborative planning with educators. She listed bargaining priorities including competitive compensation, manageable class sizes and caseloads, adequate planning time, comprehensive wellness benefits and support to address social‑emotional needs. "Competitive compensation that recognizes the expertise and dedication of our certificated staff is paramount," Aldridge said.

Maria Anguiano (CSEA chapter representative) told the board that CSEA recently voted to bring campus safety aides into their chapter and welcomed the aides. She said negotiations with the district continue, that some tentative agreements have been reached, and that CSEA hopes to finish negotiations soon. Anguiano also noted concerns about the planned unification of West and senior campuses and said the union seeks to mitigate impacts on members.

Both reports asked for continued dialogue between labor representatives and the board, with Aldridge specifically asking for meaningful educator input on implementation of new legislative requirements.