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Santa Maria-Bonita board approves tentative CSEA contract and adopts multiple personnel resolutions including 65-position service reductions
Summary
The board approved a tentative agreement with the California School Employees Association and adopted three personnel resolutions — releasing temporary certificated employees, nonreelection of probationary staff and a reduction/elimination of particular certificated services (65 FTEs) — while the district said it does not expect layoffs due to new positions and attrition.
The Santa Maria-Bonita School District Board of Education voted March 11 to approve a tentative contract with the California School Employees Association (CSEA), chapter 129, and to adopt a package of personnel resolutions directing notices and making programmatic reductions.
The board approved the tentative agreement covering revised contract articles and Appendix B (salaries) for the term referenced in the public disclosure; district staff certified the district can meet the costs for the agreement through June 30, 2026. Administration also won approval of resolution 25-16 (release of temporary certificated employees) and resolution 25-17 (nonreelection of probationary certificated employees). Both resolutions direct the superintendent or designee to send required notices no later than March 15, 2026.
In a related action, the board adopted resolution 25-18 authorizing the reduction or elimination of particular kinds of certificated services. Administration said the resolution reflects the elimination of 65 positions (65 full-time equivalents) tied to the loss or reallocation of certain funds but said that, because the district recently approved new site coach and academic support teacher positions and because of resignations, attrition and retirements, it projects no layoffs. A district staff presenter described the change as a reduction in positions rather than a layoff of employees.
Kristen Lohr, president of the Santa Maria Elementary Educators Association, spoke during public comment, urging caution. “Our concern is not simply about numbers on this page. It’s about what the resolution represents in practice,” Lohr said, listing services the union said face elimination — “instructional coaching support for English learners, intervention through RTI and newcomer services” — and asking for meaningful bargaining involvement in implementation. She specifically identified 22 instructional coach positions, 20 ELD coach positions, 22 RTI teacher positions and one newcomer teacher position as included in the proposed reductions.
Board members debated implementation and workload concerns before voting. Motions to adopt each resolution and to approve the tentative agreement passed by roll call vote; the board recorded ayes from Trustees Cordero, Valencia, Hollinshead, Lara and Cabral.
What the board approved: a) tentative agreement with CSEA (motion moved and seconded; approved), b) resolution 25-16 releasing temporary certificated employees (notices due by March 15, 2026), c) resolution 25-17 nonreelecting specified probationary certificated employees (notices due by March 15, 2026), and d) resolution 25-18 authorizing reduction/elimination of particular certificated services (district projects no layoffs due to offsetting factors).
Next steps: District staff will issue the legally required notices to affected employees by March 15, 2026 and proceed with implementation steps described in the resolutions. No additional public hearing on these specific resolutions was scheduled at the meeting.
Votes at a glance: tentative agreement with CSEA — approved (ayes: Missus Cordero; Mr. Valencia; Mr. Hollinshead; Mr. Lara; Miss Cabral); resolution 25-16 — approved (same roll call); resolution 25-17 — approved (same roll call); resolution 25-18 — approved (same roll call).
