East Side trustees approve salary and staffing changes, authorize energy contracts and bond professional services

The East Side Union High School District Board of Trustees on May 21 approved a series of personnel and contracting items intended to preserve services while limiting general‑fund pressure.

The board ratified a tentative agreement for the 2026–27 contract reopener with the Eastside Teacher Association and adopted two energy‑service resolutions: Resolution 2025/2026‑33 for mechanical and boiler upgrades at Evergreen Valley High School and Resolution 2025/2026‑34 for HVAC replacements and related work at Independence High School. Trustees approved the items by voice vote after public‑hearing procedures; the student board liaison was permitted to vote on one facilities resolution that explicitly allowed his participation.

On compensation and staffing, the board approved salary‑schedule adjustments for multiple bargaining units and unrepresented employees. Administration stated that a resolution would apply the same 1.25% increase to California School Employees Association (CSEA) members as to other units. Julio Pardo, president of CSEA Chapter 187 East Foothill, urged the district to preserve certain frontline positions and questioned transferring duties between job categories. “We are not [against supporting students],” Pardo said; he asked why the district could not retain some positions or reconfigure liaisons to serve more students while saving costs.

Administration responded that the presented increases are intended to be equitable across units and that the resolution before the board applies the same percentage to CSEA employees. The board moved the CSEA resolution and approved it by voice vote.

The board also approved a revised salary schedule for the associate superintendent and a new consolidated HR administrative job description that combines duties of two prior positions. Human‑resources staff and trustees described the change as a compacted staffing structure intended to maintain services while shifting 일부 funding to adult‑education and other restricted funds. Associate superintendent Davis explained the new job “mashed together” duties from the director of employee relations and the classified manager position; trustees and staff discussed how partial adult‑education funding and other allocations reduce the general‑fund obligation.

On subject‑area coordinators, the board adopted a partial rescission to restore 4.6 FTE subject‑area coordinator positions (certificated teachers on special assignment). Administration said the funding will be partially supported by adult‑education funds and increased state special‑education revenue; the chief business officer explained that moving some site‑support technical costs to the tech bond freed up general‑fund dollars, producing a net conservative budget benefit of roughly $100,000 (general‑fund savings of about $550,000 offset by about $650,000 moved to the bond).

Trustees approved a bond capital professional‑services contract for projects over $50,000 and carried the consent calendar. Item 15.02 was pulled to the June 1 meeting.

Julio Pardo’s public comment encapsulated CSEA’s concerns about parity and custodial staffing levels. He asked the board to consider alternatives and to be transparent about shifts in duties between positions rather than expecting different classifications to absorb work without contract adjustments. Administration acknowledged those concerns and indicated the board’s resolution applied equivalent increases and that the district had tried to preserve services via funding source adjustments.

The board wrapped business and moved on to trustee and superintendent remarks; student liaison Javier thanked the board and said he will attend Cal Poly to study biomedical engineering. The meeting adjourned at about 7:53 p.m.

Vote notes: Most actions were taken by voice vote; the transcript records trustees answering “aye” on the motions but does not provide a full roll‑call tally in the record.