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Parents, teachers and unions press Torrance Unified on transportation and contract negotiations
Summary
Public commenters urged Torrance Unified to provide McKinney‑Vento transportation, criticized stalled contract talks and low pay for counselors and teachers, and union representatives and staff recognized classified employees’ contributions.
During oral communications at the Torrance Unified board meeting, public commenters raised multiple concerns about student transportation and labor conditions.
Alicia Thompson said she and four grandchildren were denied district bus service and that the district instead offered public bus passes. She framed the issue as a McKinney‑Vento entitlement, saying the federal law "requires school districts to remove transportation barriers mandating that districts provide or arrange reliable parent requested transportation to and from a student's school of origin." Thompson said the family’s assigned schools were on opposite ends of Torrance and that public buses ran only once an hour, creating connections and health problems for her grandchildren.
Several educators and union representatives addressed compensation and working conditions. Stephanie Kotoff, an Alteria Elementary teacher, said negotiations had produced "nothing but deaf ears" and urged the board to treat educators with respect. Tiffany Garcia, a West High School counselor, described counselors being stretched beyond capacity and cited an example of a newly hired college and career coordinator who left after two weeks because health care costs in Torrance Unified would have required about $1,800 per month out‑of‑pocket compared with roughly $300 in the previous district. "Torrance Unified is becoming known as the district educators cannot afford to work for," Garcia said.
Union and classified‑staff speakers praised staff who work behind the scenes. Lisa De Leon, speaking for a local SEIU chapter, and Eric Lockhart of CSEA chapter 19 offered recognition for food service, bus drivers, maintenance, custodians and other classified employees and emphasized their role in student safety and daily operations. Carlos Anwander, president of the Torrance Teachers Association, thanked classified staff and described the partnership between certificated and classified employees.
Board members acknowledged the comments, thanked speakers, and moved on to agenda items. The meeting transcript records these concerns and anecdotes but does not show an immediate policy response to the specific McKinney‑Vento transportation allegation or an explicit update to negotiations beyond later agenda items concerning SEIU’s tentative agreement.
