Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Personnel topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Gardeners tell board cuts left campuses unsafe and untidy; they ask to be rehired
Summary
Current and former grounds staff testified that reductions in gardener positions have degraded campus maintenance and student safety; a gardener asked the board to restore the roles to protect facilities and student pride.
Several grounds staff and supporters urged trustees to reinstate gardeners who were laid off earlier in the fiscal process. "El trabajo no desapareció, las las inspecciones tampoco... Lo único que cambió es nuestra habilidad de hacer ese trabajo," said Erick Martínez, who identified himself as a gardener responsible for East and Lake Avenue sites and described the pride and early-morning work the crews performed.
Speakers argued that losing experienced groundskeepers increases maintenance backlogs, reduces extracurricular pride and risks student safety. Community members asked that the district prioritize returning staff who know campus systems and recommended reinvesting in personnel rather than allowing further facility decline.
