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Tutors urge pay raises as Calexico Unified board renews After School Unlimited contract
Summary
Sparks tutors told the Calexico Unified School District board that their pay has not kept pace with rising living costs and urged redirecting part of a cited $1.2 million contract to wages; the board approved the After School Unlimited renewal, and staff said the contract is itemized in a grant and cannot easily be repurposed.
Thomas Andrade, a tutor in the district’s Sparks expanded-learning program, told the Calexico Unified School District board that frontline tutors and site leads have not received raises in years and are struggling with rising rents and groceries. "The cost of living is going up... but our pay hasn't kept up," Andrade said during the public comment period.
Adam Graciano, who said he has tutored in the district for six years, said tutors earn about $20 to $25 an hour and have not seen a raise in three years. "Currently, we earn 20 to 25 an hour," Graciano said, asking the board to review whether funds proposed for a contract renewal could instead raise wages or expand hours.
Joe Robles, an expanded-learning tutor of 15 years, added that stagnant pay is prompting experienced staff to leave for other districts and that frontline tutors take on added responsibilities without extra compensation. Gustavo Andrade, a site lead, and Isma Visu, another district tutor, echoed those concerns and asked the board to consider both raises and consistent pay brackets tied to credentials.
District staff and board members responded that the contract at issue is tied to grant-funded work and that the grant application had itemized the partnership and program services. Malda Garcia, director of expanded learning, said the professional-development and student-wellness services are written into the district’s grant and that the district has already received the funds. "These monies right now were approved with the grant," Garcia said, adding that using grant funds for purposes not specified in the application could violate grant terms.
Board members said they heard the tutors’ concerns and that compensation is a separate matter from approving the contract. Mr. Castillo said the board is listening and will consider whether other funding sources or future budget adjustments could help address wages. Several board members encouraged district staff and interested employees to meet with administrators to explore options.
On the agenda later in the meeting the board voted to renew the district’s agreement with After School Unlimited to provide professional development and student-wellness services for the 2025–2026 school year. The motion passed by voice vote recorded as 4–0. Board members said the renewal proceeds while the board and staff will separately review compensation and grant budgeting.
The board did not adopt a change to staff wages during the meeting; several members said they would seek follow-up analysis of whether other budget sources or future grant applications could support raises. The board convened for additional action items and then announced it would go into closed session.
The district’s formal contract renewal with After School Unlimited and next steps on pay discussions are matters the board and staff indicated they will revisit in follow-up work, and tutors were invited to meet with administrators and the board for further review.
