Rialto teachers' association urges district to spend reported $200 million surplus on pay and special-education supports

The Rialto Education Association told the Rialto Unified School District board on Aug. 20 that a reported district reserve — described by the union representative as about $200 million — should be invested in teachers and special-education services rather than preserved as a reserve.

"The district has a $200 million surplus," the REA representative said, and urged the board to use available funds to increase staff pay and support students currently affected by program changes.

The union speaker traced recent program redesigns affecting early special-education (SED) services: a program that previously had a cap and a small student-to-adult ratio was reclassified and the contract limit increased, the union said, resulting in higher caseloads. The representative said some special-education teachers had been over state-mandated caseload limits last year and members had to file complaints with the California Department of Education to force hiring.

REA asked the district to prioritize hiring incentives for special-education teachers and to avoid repeating past cuts that, the union argued, prioritized cost over student supports.

Why it matters: Union claims about a large reserve and changed special-education staffing ratios bear directly on classroom support for vulnerable students and on bargaining priorities for upcoming labor negotiations. The board heard detailed accounts of teacher and SLP caseload stress and requests for an "honest and fair settlement" that exceeds a cost-of-living adjustment.

What happens next: The board did not vote on budget reallocations at the Aug. 20 meeting. REA’s comments and specific examples of program changes and caseload issues create pressure for staff reports and for bargaining discussions with union leadership.