Coachella Valley Unified School District’s Proposed Layoffs Will Negatively Impact Students with Most Needs, Union President Says

THERMAL — Proposed layoffs at Coachella Valley Unified School District will “greatly impact our student populations with the most needs,” according to Carissa Carrera, president of the Coachella Valley Teachers Association.

“It is of concern that these decisions were made without any input from or conversation with CVTA, nor have parents been made aware of exactly how these cuts will impact their children,” Carrera said.

Joey Acuña, president of the CVUSD Board of Trustees, did not return two requests seeking comment.

CVUSD is proposing drastic cuts in mental health resources, medical care resources, and special education resources, among other significant cuts, according to Carrera.

“No plan has been shared related to continuation of the services these employees provide to our ESL, SPED, and medically fragile students,” she said in a statement. “At a time students’ social-emotional needs are more demanding than ever, CVUSD is proposing to eliminate many services currently available to our students. Here is a list of the proposed layoffs:

  • CVUSD has only nine RNs, and they are proposing to cut 7 of them. They are also proposing to cut four LVNs. It is unclear who will provide for the medical needs of many of our medically fragile students or any students needing medical care.
  • CVUSD has seven Wellness Centers in the secondary school sites which provide a safe space for students and resources for their mental health needs. The district is proposing to cut three of the seven credentialed interventionists and all the classified Paraeducator Behavior Support Staff in the centers.
  • CVUSD plans to cut all 21 Instructional Media Assistants, the personnel responsible for running the libraries at all the school sites.
  • CVUSD plans to eliminate all twenty-one of the elementary VAPA teachers who provide music and art instruction to elementary students.
  • CVUSD has Parent Centers at all school sites, but they plan to layoff all the Parent Liaisons who run these centers.
  • CVUSD plans to layoff all English Language Support Assistants.
  • CVUSD is proposing to cut 27 Paraeducators who support our Special Education students.

You can see the proposal here: https://ukenreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/certificated-RIFs-2025-01-20-19-37.pdf

CVUSD sent out a press release on Jan. 17, discussing the need for cuts to be made. In this press release they failed to mention that every financial and staffing decision made up to this point has been presented to and approved by our current school board trustees, Carrera said in her statement. The budget problems CVUSD is dealing with are self-imposed, yet the blame is being placed on a variety of employees who have recently been released from their employment from CVUSD under suspicious circumstances.

“While CVUSD is moving forward with these extensive layoffs affecting nearly 300 positions, it is particularly concerning that the superintendent and some school board members have focused efforts on preserving a position for a City of Coachella employee instead of prioritizing the protection of current CVUSD staff positions that directly impact student services,” Carrera said. “CVTA stands strong in its belief that it is time for CVUSD and its school board to take responsibility for their own actions and solve their financial matters in a way that does not harm the students of our district. We continue to work toward improving CVUSD leadership and transparency for the good of students, staff and the community we serve.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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