Did Joey Acuña Take Fall for Layoffs?

Joey Acuña Allegedly Took Responsibility for Teacher Layoffs at CVUSD

LA QUINTA — At a meeting the La Quinta City Council called on Wednesday to demand answers from the Coachella Valley Unified School District Board of Education on Wednesday for what La Quinta city officials called an “egregious mismanagement of the District’s budget,” CVUSD Board President Joey Acuña reportedly took the fall for what’s been happening, according to La Quinta City Councilmember Kathleen Fitzpatrick.

Three attempts to reach Acuña were unsuccessful.

Attending the meeting were CVUSD Superintendent Frances Esparza, Acuña, Trustee Trinidad Arredondo, and department heads for site development and financial services department.

I would say the meeting was a productive first step, Fitzpatrick said. We cleared up confusion over revenues generated by residents of La Quinta.

“Board President Acuña indicated that he accepted responsibility, for the board, in the continued effects of expending, one time, Covid era funds to grow the district resulting in the budget cuts we are seeing now, “But that is their story to tell and issues to resolve. “He was very specific.”

The City of La Quinta has contributed tax dollars to CVUSD since incorporation as a city (1982). While there are very few students at CVUSD who reside in La Quinta, the geographic territory and tax dollars are significant in comparison.

While CVUSD Esparza described having a “great meeting” with the City Manager, City Council Member John Peña, Fitzpatrick and their Finance Analyst and Finance Director, she disagreed with what Acuña said.

“What Mr. Acuña mentioned was that the Board is responsible for some of the distress on the district’s budget,” Esparza said. “He expressed that no one ever wants to lay off staff but there have not been reductions in staff in several years, except teachers who were a part of a lay off last year. He stated that last year only Elementary Teachers were reduced but not secondary teachers, as the Board did direct that secondary teachers also be a part of last year’s reduction in force.

“He shared that the Board makes decisions on the information that they are provided, and that’s how many decisions were made in the past that unfortunately brought us to this point because of the lack of information,” Esparza said. “He also informed that this does stem from 2019 up until now, and that this Board is now taking action on ensuring fiscal stability.”

In addition to the layoffs, the leaders talked specifically about growth in the southeast quarter of La Quinta and the need to assure a quality safe education for new families moving into the part of the city in their district, Fitzpatrick said.

“I think this was a productive meeting and the Superintendent has indicated a willingness to foster a better, more open, relationship by continuing to meet on a quarterly basis. I think she understood our concerns,’ Kirkpatrick said. “They have to solve their structural issues and we will continue to advocate for quality, safe education in both the school districts in our city.”

The La Quinta City Council Members were under the impression that we were using La Quinta tax dollars that are transferred into the Local Control Funding Formula account which is used for staffing such as teachers as well as used to purchase curricular materials. We explained that the RDA fund is monies used for Redevelopment Projects and not for the funding of staff or curricular materials, Esparza said.

CVUSD leaders also explained that the Redevelopment Account RDA money would be used for our Restricted Routine Maintenace Account (RRMA). Therefore, the City of La Quinta would continue to receive the maintenance needed at all school sites in La Quinta, as well as throughout the entire district. Capital Improvement Projects are another fund that is being used across the district for upgrades to school facilities and we are currently identifying improvement projects at Mountain Vista and Cahuilla Desert Academy.

“They expressed an interest in written communication, so that they may share the great things happening in CVUSD, to ensure that families know that the district has improved on State Test Score, increased Graduation Rate, and offers programs that attract La Quinta families to CVUSD,” “Esparza said.  “I shared that we have improved on State Test Scores, increased Graduation Rate, are the KidWind World Champions, have been recognized for the Mental Health and Wellness Program, that we have begun a Virtual Reality Math Program (PRSMS), that we have introduced an Instructional Framework to support School Leadership and our Teachers with identifying academic achievement goals.

“They were surprised at the accomplishments and expressed the need to share that with them at least quarterly, she added.  “We have agreed to meet quarterly.”

The next quarterly meeting is being scheduled.