Board Votes To Layoff 47 CVUSD Teachers

The Coachella Valley Unified School District Board voted Thursday night to finalize the layoff of 47 teachers. The Board voted in favor of the layoffs in February, then teachers were given pink slips in March. There were hopes the district would rescend those pink slips and bring the teachers back.

That wasn’t the case. Dozens of other teachers laid off last year and brought back on temporary contracts this year will also be out of a job next school year.

Alexis Willis, President of the Coachella Valley Teachers Association said, “We’re totally disappointed, not surprised, this is the way they’ve been treating us, when the teachers and parents get up there the board can’t even look them in the eye.” Close to 200 teachers, parents and students took part in a rally protest before the 7p.m. packed meeting.

The District is looking at a $16 million revenue shortfall which will likely turn into a large budget deficit. Coachella Valley Unified School District Superintendent, Ricardo Medina said, “Which personnel account to a large portion of our budget there is no way we can balance the budget without it impacting personnel. The District has lost $20 million in the last two years.”

Many of the teachers, parents and students are worried about class sizes after the teachers are cut. Some estimate K-3rd Grades will have one teacher for ever 30 students.

The District Management announced they agreed to take a 5% pay cut next year. Medina released this statement, “The District Management Team has agreed to take a 5% percent salary reduction for next school year in order to help balance the budget. And management realizes as the leadership of the School District they must step up and lead by example for others to follow in order to save jobs and money.”