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Teachers and staff urge Oak Grove board to preserve TOSA and community‑liaison roles; union presses for timely ratification
Summary
During public comment, teachers, TOSAs and a community liaison teacher urged the board not to cut Teachers on Special Assignment (TOSAs) or community liaisons, saying those roles are vital to English learners and students with disabilities; the Oak Grove Educators Association representative reported a 98.1% ratification and asked for transparency on AB 1200 timing and supporting documents.
Multiple educators and community members used the public‑comment period at the Jan. 15 Oak Grove School District board meeting to press the board to preserve positions that support vulnerable students and to request transparency around union ratification timelines.
Sarah Griffiths, an English‑learner teacher partner, urged the board to preserve TOSAs who provide instructional coaching, technology and special‑education support. "When you cut teacher support, you cut student support," Griffiths said, explaining that TOSAs reduce long‑term costs by delivering in‑house coaching and continuity for district initiatives.
Selena, a classroom instructional assistant at Christopher Elementary, said proposed cuts to instructional aides would directly harm students with individualized education programs, disrupt legally required services and increase behavioral challenges when supports disappear in practice.
Maribel Fong, a Christopher Elementary teacher with 23 years in Oak Grove, said community liaisons help families with food insecurity, transportation and school‑system navigation and argued those roles are essential for Title I communities.
An Oak Grove Educators Association representative filling in for OGEA president Luis Velasquez said OGEA members ratified a tentative agreement with a 98.1% favorable vote, and urged the district to explain why ratification by the board is not on the current agenda. The representative requested a copy of the AB 1200 report and any communications with the county office of education related to the tentative agreement, and announced a union Budget Accountability Project that identified potential expenditure reductions.
Brenna Jewel told the board that delay in submitting the AB 1200 report was prolonging the effective date of negotiated pay increases and urged a special meeting and timely county submission to restore trust.
The board did not act on these public comments at the meeting; the superintendent and staff said they would follow up with information and next steps.
