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Teachers press Inglewood Unified over consultant spending and contract talks as district reports $146M cash balance
Summary
District staff told the board the general fund ended February with about $146 million in cash; teachers and community members raised concerns about consultant spending, reserve depletion and called for transparent bargaining and reconsideration of a principal non-renewal.
At the April 8 board meeting, Assistant Superintendent Rafael Guzman presented a general fund cash-flow report and said the district ended February with about $146 million in cash, projecting a positive June balance but warning that multi-year reserves are being drawn down.
"We ended February at about 146 million dollars in cash," Guzman said, and added that the district must monitor reserves as projects and operations spend down funds.
Public commenters, including representatives of the Inglewood Teachers Association, used the meeting to press the board for what they described as a fair bargaining process that prioritizes compensation and working conditions. John Hughes of the teachers association said the union is ready to bargain in good faith and urged district leaders to focus on classroom needs rather than ‘‘distractions.’’
Several speakers criticized the district’s use of outside consultants. Board Vice President Brandon Myers earlier in the meeting cited consultant expenditures in special education and other departments and asked whether the district could reduce contracts by creating in-house positions. Community member Jose Reyes said the district appears to be spending heavily on consultants while classroom and frontline staff needs remain unfilled.
A related personnel controversy drew sustained public comment: numerous parents, teachers and students urged the board to reconsider the non-renewal of Inglewood High School principal Dr. Collins, citing improved school climate and academic gains under his leadership. Speakers included current and former students and staff who credited the principal with stronger family engagement and test-score improvements. The board did not take action on personnel decisions during the meeting.
District leaders said some contracted services are intended to be transitional while the district builds in-house capacity; staff noted that certain position changes (for example, revising a six-hour position to eight hours) are intended to attract permanent hires and reduce reliance on consultants.
No formal vote on contract negotiations or consultant reductions took place; the board approved an employment agreement for the Assistant Superintendent of Business Services and the consent calendar during the meeting.
