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Board honors outgoing ERFT president Lilia Karion as she announces tentative settlement with district
Summary
El Rancho Unified recognized Lilia Karion for eight years as president of the El Rancho Federation of Teachers. In remarks she thanked colleagues and said the union and district reached a tentative settlement that will go to members for ratification and retro pay.
The El Rancho Unified School District Board of Education on June 23 presented a recognition to Miss Lilia Karion for her service as president of the El Rancho Federation of Teachers from June 2018 through June 2026.
Karion accepted a certificate and gave an emotional farewell speech in which she thanked family, listed influential educators by name, and described the partnerships she said she had built with district cabinet members. "I will place it in a very special place in my home," Karion said of the certificate. She also used her podium time to update members on bargaining: "On Friday we settled with the district," she said, adding that she would present the agreement to ERFT membership this week and hoped it would be ratified and lead to retroactive pay.
Board members and attendees offered personal remarks and thanks for Karion's leadership, citing historic raises achieved under her tenure and collaboration during difficult episodes such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Trustees expressed appreciation for Karion's advocacy and for the union's role in negotiating for members.
The board did not discuss settlement terms at the meeting. Karion's announcement described only that the union's negotiating team and the district reached a tentative agreement and that the union would seek ratification by its membership.
Next steps: Karion said ERFT would present the agreement to members for ratification and, if ratified, payments including retro pay would be processed. District staff who participated in bargaining were thanked publicly during the recognition.
Quote used in story: "On Friday we settled with the district and I have to say thank you to Mark... I will present it to our membership this week. We hope to ratify and then get it back..." (Miss Lilia Karion, ERFT president).
