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Teachers' union and students urge Escondido Union High to pass COLA, criticize $48 million reserves
Summary
ESTA negotiations chair Jojo Armini accused the district of holding a $48,000,000 reserve and delaying required cost-of-living adjustments; students described canceled tutorials and extracurricular losses and urged the board to negotiate a fair contract.
Jojo Armini, negotiations chair for the Escondido Secondary Teachers Association, told the board that the state-provided 2.3% cost-of-living adjustment for 2025–26 had been received by the district in July 2025 and accused district negotiators of stalling to avoid passing that funding to teachers.
"The district is funded with COLA in every single LCFF... and yet they still hold our money hostage and refuse to negotiate," Armini said, adding that the district's reserves total "$48,000,000," which he described as "disgustingly bloated." He said district offers so far amount to about 1.5% and that, after benefit-cost increases, members face what he characterized as a net pay cut.
Multiple student speakers said the district's job actions are already affecting learning. Macy Brooks, a senior and ASP president at Del Lago Academy, said tutorials, clubs and other student activities had been canceled "until further notice," reducing students' access to test preparation and mental-health supports. Diego Montanez, ASB president at Escondido High School, said METRA and other student organizations were disrupted because advisors were participating in job actions.
"Our students are losing the very spaces that help us feel safe and grounded because this district refuses to value the people who create them," Montanez said.
District leaders pushed back on some characterizations. When asked later whether the county office had flagged deceptive accounting practices, a district official said they were "not aware of any audit finding that finds anything deceptive." The board did not take immediate action on negotiation terms during the meeting.
The board, students and union speakers repeatedly asked for transparency about reserves and how state COLA funding is being applied. Trustees and staff said funding sources and budget lines can include LCFF and grant funds and that some items on consent had already been budgeted, but specific timing of contract settlements was not resolved at the meeting.
What happens next: negotiations are ongoing. Armini said job actions will continue until the association feels the district offers a fair settlement; the board did not announce a timetable for new bargaining sessions.
