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Bus drivers, unions press Elk Grove board over contract proposals as counselors face cuts
Summary
Union leaders and bargaining-unit speakers urged the Elk Grove Unified School District board to address health-care, wage and staffing concerns while staff defended a budget plan that would reduce temporary counselor FTE to meet a 375:1 district target. Public testimony pressed transparency on negotiations and staffing math.
Elk Grove — Union leaders and bargaining-unit representatives pressed the Elk Grove Unified School District board on staffing and contract terms during the meeting, while district leaders defended a budget plan that would pare back one-time positions.
"An overwhelming no — 163 members voting to continue to fight" was how Edgar, a steward for ATU Local 256, described his unit’s response to the district’s final proposal, adding that members are worried about rising health-care costs, language protection and stagnant wages. "We will not be silent and we will not settle for less than fairness and respect," he told the board.
The complaints echoed earlier public comment from Crystal McGee of ATU Local 256, who said the district’s last offer had been rejected by drivers and mechanics and accused the district of finding money for some administrators while school transportation staff face shortfalls. "We came on the open agenda because we feel like we're the others," McGee said.
District and union testimony came amid a broader budget-priority presentation. Vicky Trimmingham, lead director for secondary education representing union concerns on counseling, said district management recommended reducing temporary secondary counselors from 12.5 FTE to 5 FTE. Trimmingham said that using a district-wide 375:1 student-to-counselor ratio understates site-level needs and recommended retaining closer to 11 FTE to keep counselors below 375 students each.
Superintendent remarks and staff slides stressed that the temporary counselors are in place through the end of the current school year and that the district is planning for 2026–27 enrollment and funding scenarios. Staff also said the 375:1 figure is a target and that actual staffing may be adjusted based on finalized enrollment numbers.
Elk Grove Education Association President James Sutter thanked the board and acknowledged the value of the one-time pandemic-era positions while warning that the district cannot absorb all ESSER-funded roles into ongoing budgets. "Despite the one-time nature of these funds, I think we all hoped some positions could be built into ongoing dollars," Sutter said, while acknowledging fiscal limits.
Board members questioned specific FTE math and asked staff to use current enrollment projections before finalizing counselor counts. Several trustees pressed for clearer, site-level explanations of how reductions would change service models and asked for continued engagement with bargaining partners.
No formal contract action was taken on bargaining items during the meeting; the public comments and union testimony were entered into the record and board members signaled continued dialogue with labor leaders as the budget process moves forward.
