Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Reading Intervention topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board continues vote on literacy‑intervention staff after hours of public comment
Summary
After more than 90 minutes of public comment and a multi‑hour trustee discussion, the Santa Monica‑Malibu Unified School District board continued action on proposed changes to Literacy/Language Interventionist (LLI) positions to its March 3 meeting, citing the need for more community outreach and data about early‑grade supports.
The Santa Monica‑Malibu Unified School District board delayed a final vote on a plan that would restructure elementary literacy supports and reduce certain certificated FTEs, after dozens of parents, teachers and staff urged the board to preserve reading intervention roles.
‘‘This program has literally saved children’s futures,’’ parent Sarah Blitz told trustees during public comment, describing her own children’s progress after targeted intervention. Superintendent Doug Meza framed the item as a program evaluation intended to align supports with federal progress‑monitoring requirements and to transition some services into more classroom‑based (tier‑1) instruction.
Meza and district staff told the board that the LLI role was originally intended as an intensive tier‑3 intervention for 4th and 5th graders, and that district changes (including adoption of phonics curriculum in early grades and a switch from FastBridge to STAR screening in 2022) reduced the number of students meeting the old urgent‑intervention criteria. ‘‘These evaluations are not about eliminating support,’’ Meza said; staff said that only a small number of students currently meet the STAR red/urgent threshold.
Trustees repeatedly asked for more longitudinal program data, clarity about why 3rd grade was not included in the current criteria, and a plan for ensuring students between the 10th and 40th percentiles receive timely supports. Board president (Speaker 1) and several trustees said they wanted more time for community engagement and legal review; a motion to amend the personnel‑related documents to remove 4.0 multisubject FTE reductions passed, and other related personnel items were continued to March 3 for further review.
The board’s continuance means the district will present an expanded packet and give trustees time to consult with staff, legal counsel and bargaining partners before finalizing layoffs or position reductions.
