Union leaders urge district to fill vacancies, clarify medical duties and address AI protections

Union leaders used the administrative reports portion of the agenda to raise staffing and workplace concerns as the new school year begins.

Christina Pagache, president of the Association of Colton Educators, welcomed educators, noted endorsements for incumbent board candidates, and expressed appreciation for professional development efforts. Anthony Guadarrama, CSEA chapter president, thanked the board for conference support and described contract issues his chapter wants addressed.

Guadarrama said some schools have opened the year without head custodians, community liaisons or certain technicians, and flagged what he described as a concerning practice of health assistants being directed to perform g-tube feedings — duties he said are not in job descriptions and carry medical risk. "If these directors are gonna continue implementing processes or procedures that violate our contract...the response from CSEA will be in the form of grievances, complaints, cease and desist, and unfair labor practices," he said.

Guadarrama also asked the board to direct the district negotiating team to discuss protections similar to language in Assembly Bill 2148 (cited in the meeting) that would guard public staff from being replaced by artificial intelligence.