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Teachers, union and students press Sequoia Union board on pay, SPED staffing and need for an AI policy
Summary
Public commenters and union representatives urged higher teacher pay and prioritized filling a vacant SPED specialist post; the student trustee called for a districtwide AI policy and better safety‑drill and communication practices.
Multiple public commenters, a union representative and the student trustee used the district’s public‑comment period to press trustees on staffing, compensation and policy gaps.
An online commenter who identified themself as "iPhone518" congratulated the board on a staff recognition and urged the board to grant teachers at least a 10% raise, saying teachers currently are seeking a 4% raise and that the district could reallocate funds from administration and litigation. The commenter also accused certain administrators — naming Ms. Hansen and warning of impending litigation involving other administrators — of wrongdoing. The commenter’s allegations were not accompanied by evidence in the public record and received no response during the public‑comment period.
A second commenter said the district spends “something like $2 million a year for lawsuits” and argued those funds should be redirected to teacher salaries. Marilyn Travel, speaking in person on behalf of special‑education staff at her site, said the site has been without its second full‑time ED specialist for more than eight weeks, asked the board and cabinet to prioritize filling that vacancy, and raised concern that professional‑development Wednesdays can be extended by one hour without compensation.
Representing SDTA, a union speaker thanked the superintendent for safety messaging but said bargaining has not produced a settlement after an eighth bargaining day; the union expressed disappointment that no settlement was brought back from closed session and urged the district to complete an investigation into a member who has been out of work for five and a half quarters.
Student advisory council comments: the student trustee said the district lacks a consistent policy on artificial intelligence, highlighted differing classroom practices and cited a local example (students relying on an AI tool for learning). The trustee also asked how the district evaluates the effectiveness of safety drills and called for improved communication so students receive timely notices (example: short notice about the PSAT at one site).
What trustees did: the board heard the comments but did not take substantive action on pay, bargaining or staffing during the open meeting. The transcript shows trustees acknowledged the speakers and noted the board’s practice of referring items raised in public comment to staff for follow‑up.
Selected quotes
"If the board is willing to spend millions upon millions of dollars from their funds to protect administrators that are corrupt in criminal and in mental capacity, then they have plenty of money to give it to the teachers... Give the teachers what they deserve." — Public commenter (online).
"I think at the site level we've been doing everything that we can... we have not had our second full time ED specialist for over eight weeks now." — Marilyn Travel, special‑education staff member.
"The use of artificial intelligence by counselors, students, and particularly teachers is pretty unrestricted and unregulated and differs across schools and classrooms alike." — Student trustee.
Next steps: union bargaining is scheduled to continue (the union referenced a next meeting on the 19th) and board policy staff were asked to follow up on issues raised during public comment including staffing vacancies and communications; no binding decisions were made at the meeting.
