Coachella Valley Unified board approves Resolution 2639 to reduce classified services

The Coachella Valley Unified School District Board voted 6–1 to approve Resolution 2639, authorizing reductions or eliminations of classified services because of lack of work or lack of funds. The board took the action after public comment from district classified employees and a period of questions and clarification from trustees.

In public comment, Alicia Violi, who identified herself as a Coachella Valley Unified School District employee, told the board cuts and reduced hours have strained staffing and service capacity. “You need the manpower,” she said, urging the district to restore hours and positions rather than reduce them. Jose, an enterprise systems specialist, questioned the seniority calculations used in the layoff process, saying the interpretation applied had the effect of removing previously earned higher-class seniority. “Approximately 8,378 days, nearly 23 years of historically earned higher class service across multiple long-term employees was affected,” he said, and asked the board to clarify how reclassification will affect seniority going forward.

Staff introduced the item as Resolution 2639, a proposed reduction or elimination of classified positions due to lack of work or funds. Board members asked for detail about the numbers cited in the staff report. Staff said the district initially served notice to about 667 positions to preserve employees’ displacement options; many notices were subsequently withdrawn because employees could displace into other classifications or prior positions. That process, staff said, is driven by seniority and prior classifications and can produce apparently large initial notice counts when employees have long histories and multiple prior positions.

Staff further clarified that of the 33 employees listed as affected under the resolution, 16 would be ‘bumped’ into another (lower-class) position and remain employed, three would move to a different work calendar, five elected layoff, and nine would face full layoff. A trustee who spoke in favor of the resolution said the shortfalls are the product of prior management and that the board had followed the required legal process; the trustee urged colleagues not to politicize the decision.

Director Gonzalez moved to approve the resolution and a director seconded. Roll-call votes were recorded as follows: President Tortez — yes; Vice President Garcia — yes; Clerk Ardondo — yes; Trustee Akuna — no; Trustee Kalimanes — yes; Trustee Gonzalez — yes; Trustee Vargas — yes. The motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 3:43 p.m.