, 2025
KEEPING YOU INFORMED - Negotiations Update By Ruben Mancillas
At the Finance and Audit Committee last week and then at the board meeting on Tuesday night, the Deputy Superintendent and Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Nguyen, presented a proposed budget reduction plan for the 2025-2026 school year.
Some additional context is that the district has been experiencing declining enrollment for the past seven years. The district’s enrollment has declined by 2,899 students, from 20,418 students in the 2018/19 school year to 17,519 students in the 2024-2025 school year. In the 2024/2025 school year, the COLA for LCFF funding was 1.07%. As a result, the district is facing a structural deficit of approximately $4.1 million in the current year.
LACOE has required the district to submit a Fiscal Stabilization Plan of at least $4.1 million to the County no later than June 30, 2025.
Mr. Nguyen listed nine potential solutions with a savings of $5,900,000 available if all of them were implemented fully.
Reduce Department Budgets by 20% = $300,00
Reduce all base-funded travel/conference by 50% = $200,000
Reduce the Management staff by 10 positions = $1,600,000
Reduce Teachers on Special Assignment by 10 positions = $1,500,000
Strategic Hiring = $300,000
Reduce contract & consultant services by $500,000 = $500,000
Reduce Professional Development by $500,000 = $500,000
Reduce Contribution to the Deferred Maintenance Program = $500,000
Reduce Contribution to the Post Employment Health Benefits Program = $500,000
Other…
Other…
$5,900,000
The preliminary budget and LCAP will be presented to the board for review and discussion on June 3, 2025, and the final budget and LCAP will be presented to the board on June 17, 2025 for approval.
As the process is ongoing, I am hesitant to offer much editorial comment, but here are some thoughts. Declining enrollment is real. Our COLA this year was insufficient to meet ongoing costs.. But moving forward, we need to find a path toward keeping us competitive with the salary schedules of neighboring districts. This is an absolute imperative. Otherwise, we risk becoming a “training district” where talented teachers and nurses start their careers because of our quality professional development and partnership culture, only to leave because our compensation is not comparable. The definition of what it means to be competitive can vary but at a certain point, the amount on the salary scale speaks for itself. A consistent goal that we have is to be in the top quartile for total compensation for unified districts in L.A. County. But each member has their own perspective. For example, our mid career teachers can see that their compensation is not equitable when compared to many neighboring districts. To be able to attract the best qualified teachers and nurses is only the first step, the issue of how to then retain our staff becomes critical if our salary schedules are not keeping pace.
It is not sustainable for us to be on a year to year “hamster wheel” of budget crises. The May Revise numbers come out very soon with the current COLA for 2025-2026 being projected at 2.3% This would be twice this year’s COLA but still low. We should not find ourselves navigating versions of these budget cuts again and again. Addressing our declining enrollment needs to be done sooner rather than later so that we can move forward with a positive roadmap, which features competitive compensation at the forefront. It is reasonable that if we have an identified deficit we would create a pathway to balance our budget. But if we have identified a similar structural declining enrollment problem we should respond with an equivalent plan.
Reminder that we have bargained for a voluntary PL day on Friday, August 8. Every member who chooses to participate in the Transcend event will earn $525.00. Register at abcpl.app and create a free account in Sched by May 30.
Given the district’s structural deficit of 4.1 million dollars, there will not be an increase to the salary schedule in 2024-2025. A vote is not required due to there being no change to our salary schedule or number of contracted days. Health benefits will be maintained at the current level, with both Kaiser and Trio offering full family coverage at no additional cost. There will be no layoffs of permanent employees. Step and column increases will be maintained. The PL day noted above will be available for this year as well as the next two years of our three year calendar. And all unit members are eligible for a retirement incentive in the form of a one-time off-schedule payment of 10% of the employee’s salary for the 2024-2025 school year.
In Unity,
ACADEMIC SERVICES UPDATE - I.T. Guest Article
By ABCUSD Information & Technology Director Mike Lawrence
Making IT Happen
I was honored when Ray invited me to share my thoughts in the YOUnion news and I’m happy to have a space to regularly share ABC’s Instructional Technology efforts and guidance and seek your expertise. One thing I always bring to my work here at ABC is my perspective as a teacher. I taught grades 7-12 in English, composition, web design and even taught a Sci-Fi Lit class for a few years! I see our students as IT’s customers and our teachers as the first, best point of contact.
TRANSCEND - How to register and a call for presenters.
This week, we launched registration for Summer PL with the theme ‘Transcend’ - the one-day professional learning will be held on August 8 and as with previous years, teachers and nurses will be granted a stipend to attend. As we do not know what the future holds, we’ve decided to bring the best of our IGNITE EdTech Symposium and embed it within this one day event, so you’ll get the best of both worlds in a single day - fully infused technology solutions for Tier 1 supports, including UDL, AI and engagement strategies for all students. Register at abcpl.app and create a free account in Sched by May 30.
We’re also still looking for speakers for the event - come and showcase the great work you’re doing - visit www.abcusd.us/summerspeak by May 9 to start the process. You’ll get 8 hours of prep. time compensation for each unique session offered!
Mike Lawrence
Your IT Director
KAISER MEMBER SERVICES
We all get bombarded with emails about programs or businesses. Kaiser is good about emailing members about programs, changes, or opportunities for better living. We are all busy and I’m like you and don’t always read those emails before I put them in the trash. However, since Summer is upon us, maybe take a couple of extra minutes to check out what your health care providers' options and programs. Health benefits are only as good as your usage of those services that you use to improve or maintain your healthy living. ~Ray
For your Members – Click on link
· Health Topic of the month: Mental Health
· Tidbits: NEW! OnePass
· Thriving Schools Update
Mental Fitness Guide
Union leaders can see Kaiser Permanente's suggestions to employers for cultivating mental health fitness at the workplace. It can also help guide labor and management conversations on improving the working conditions at the workplace.
Employer's guide: Mental fitness | Kaiser Permanente
Elevating Employee Well-being: Employer Webinar Series
Employee well-being remains crucial to organizational success. Our 2025 webinar series dives into the leading trends impacting workforce health and aims to empower organizations and unions in fostering a culture of health and well-being. Brokers and consultants are invited as well.
May 28 - Mental Fitness in the Workplace
NEWS: Teacher Morale and Hiring Pipeline
Education Week’s Teacher Morale Index registered a score of +18 for the 2024-25 school year, a significant improvement from the -13 score registered in 2023, the index’s debut year. In a school case study, the leaders credited making sure their staff are “feeling heard by their administrators” as the main reason for their high morale.
Find what teacher morale looks like in every state – US average is 18.
Higher than US Average – WA (22), CA (29), VA (31), GA (47)
Lower than US Average – OR (-13), CO (-5), HI (7), DC (8), MD (15)
In a recent study of the teacher pipeline, staffing is stabilizing with the exception of science and special education. The study’s author states that teacher-prep programs train the same number of students in different subjects every year and rarely get advised on changes in local and regional labor markets.
ACADEMIC SERVICES UPDATE
This month’s academic service update is vital for all teachers. We hope you will take a moment to look at this monthly report, which discusses changes in academic services that could impact your classroom. This document provides the union with a means of giving the District feedback on the many programs or changes they are proposing at any time. Without your feedback or questions on these changes, it is harder for ABCFT to slow down and modify the district’s neverending rollout of new projects. Please submit your comments and questions to the appropriate ABCFT liaison.
For Elementary curricular issues, please email Megan at Megan.Mitchell@abcusd.us , for Secondary curricular issues, please email Catherine at Catherine.Pascual@abcusd.us, for Secondary PAL topics please email Megan at Megan.Harding@abcusd.us , Special Education PAL topics please email Brittney at Brittney.Parker-Goodin@abcusd.us if you have any questions or concerns.
Click Here For This Month’s Full Report
ABCFT PRESIDENT’S REPORT - Ray Gaer
Consistent and regular communication is a union’s most important tool for advocating for its members at the bargaining table. Every conversation with members is focused on the result of negotiating for the future prosperity and well-being of ALL ABCFT members. This weekly report informs members about issues impacting their working/learning conditions and mental well-being. Our work as a Union is a larger conversation and united, we make the YOUnion.
So much is happening in the ABC Universe that it’s going to take Ruben and me a couple of weeks to make sure that you have all the necessary information so that you are informed and aware of what is happening. In Ruben’s message today, he spoke about the Budget Reduction Plan that the school board discussed on Tuesday night until 11:30 p.m. It was a long meeting, but an important one that is the beginning of an important story arc for ABCUSD.
Negotiating during a time of budget cuts and unreliable funding streams at the state and federal levels is tricky, to say the least. I was on the negotiating team during the 2007-2012 downturn, where the State of California used every accounting gimmick imaginable to fund schools, including borrowing up to six months of revenue (much like a credit card). I learned from that time that any borrowing from our future only means that we, as workers, will lose a proportional amount of spending power in our checks. In 2007-2012, all educators lost 20% of their buying power as the state posted COLA increases on paper but didn’t send those monies to school districts. Imagine being told that you will get an increase in pay for four years and then it never shows up on your paycheck…ever. That’s what the State did to education the last time around.
You received an announcement from ABCFT today explaining what we’ve been doing in negotiations to protect health benefits, step and column increases, which most of us take for granted. What seems like pass-through items in good years become concerns and items for heavy negotiations during tight fiscal times. ABCFT positioned all year through school board elections, conversations with members, strategy talks with the ABCFT site rep council and Executive board the need for us to protect our health benefits this year. Our health benefits are the third most expensive line item in the budget at 58 million dollars in a 220 million dollar budget, and when combined with salaries, this accounts for over 80% of the total budget for the ABC School District.
At the board meeting this Tuesday, I stressed the importance of making cuts that were less impactful on the classroom, and I also delivered a salary comparison report that compared ABC salaries to those of the surrounding school districts. I will share this study next week, but there is hard evidence that ABC will not be able to remain competitive if we do not do something about school facilities. We have too much overhead, and the specter of having rampant combination classes across the district is a horror show for teachers who will be asked to do the impossible task of being forced to teach two different grade levels in one class in the same amount of time. It's a recipe for academic disaster, leading to burned-out teachers, falling academic scores, and a death spiral for enrollment in our schools. The school board must do something about our facilities issue so that we can gather our resources to be most effective for our students, so we can provide the broadest possible range of programs to attract students, and to have large enough staffs at our schools that we don’t have a forest of combination classes that block our path to academic success. This school board has some tough choices to make and the destiny of ABC is in their hands. ABCFT is leveraging all of its political capital to ensure that the board and administration remember that the employees are a critical component to the success of this school district.
Here are two clips from my speaking at the school board meeting this week.
In YOUnity,
Ray Gaer
President, ABCFT
CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
Follow AFT President Randi Weingarten: http://twitter.com/rweingarten
----- NEWS STORY HIGHLIGHT-----
Maine comes out on top in Title IX dispute
The U.S. Department of Agriculture agreed to stop freezing funds to Maine in a court order issued Friday, marking one of the state’s first legal victories in its months-long Title IX feud with the Trump administration over their conflicting policies for transgender student-athletes. The settlement closes a dispute first sparked by the federal government’s decision to freeze federal funds to Maine for certain administrative and technological functions in the state’s schools. “The State of Maine went to court and fought this unlawful attempt to freeze critical funding for our school lunch program, and we won,” said Maine Gov. Janet Mills, adding that the reinstated funds would preserve school meals for 172,000 Maine students. The Trump administration still has two separate investigations into Maine that have been referred by the departments of Education and HHS to the U.S. Department of Justice for enforcement, after those two agencies said they were at an “impasse” with Maine. The Education Department and HHS investigations resulted in draft resolution agreements the administration said Maine must sign if it wished to avoid cuts in federal funding.
----- NATIONAL NEWS -----
Trump's FY26 budget proposal cuts $4.5bn from K-12
The Trump administration has proposed a $163bn federal budget cut for fiscal 2026. The 22.6% drop in base nondefense discretionary spending includes Education Department cuts of $12bn, or 15% of its current funding. Around $4.5bn would come from K-12 schools, with 24 K-12 grant programs and seven Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) programs consolidated into two funding streams. These cuts would not impact Title I funding for low-income schools, an Education Department spokesperson said. Reductions of $1.16bn would come from cutting the TRIO and GEAR UP initiatives aimed at supporting low-income students and preparing them for college. Additionally, nearly $1bn would be dropped from federal work-study programs; $890m from services to help immigrant students become proficient English speakers; $70m from the Teacher Quality Partnerships grant; and $49m from the Office for Civil Rights. Charter schools would receive an additional $60m in funding. “The Skinny Budget saves billions in taxpayer dollars from going to duplicative, unaligned, or non-essential programs. I look forward to presenting a complete FY 2026 budget in the future and working with Congress to deliver on the promise for a new era in education,” commented Education Secretary Linda McMahon. The House and Senate Appropriations committees will hold hearings over the coming months to learn more about the president’s proposal, and later mark up their own bills to fund the federal government.
Politico The Hill New York Times
----- DISTRICTS -----
Tragedy strikes Santa Ana High
In a tragic incident outside Santa Ana High School, one teenage boy was killed and two others injured during a fight among students on Wednesday afternoon. According to Officer Natalie Garcia of the Santa Ana Police Department, the victims, aged 14 to 17, were transported to local hospitals, with one boy later succumbing to his injuries. The other two are reported to be in stable condition. The suspects, believed to be male students, fled the scene, prompting a search by police.
Pasadena USD announced on May 7 that it would rescind layoff notices for 40 of the 66 certificated employees initially targeted for cuts. Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco expressed relief, stating: “We’re pleased to be able to keep so many of our valued educators.” However, the district still plans to eliminate 91 certificated full-time positions to address a $37m deficit caused by declining enrollment and rising costs. Despite protests from the United Teachers of Pasadena, district officials indicated that further cuts would be necessary in the future to resolve ongoing financial challenges.
Trans student rights ignite heated debate
The Lucia Mar school board meeting witnessed a significant turnout as the community engaged in a heated debate over trans students' rights, particularly regarding their participation in sports and use of facilities. Virginia Roof, a pro-trans rally organizer, emphasized the importance of inclusivity, stating, “Our main goal is to show the LGBTQ+ community and trans kids... that they feel safe.” Conversely, Shannon Kessler, founder of Save Girls Sports, argued for the protection of girls' rights, asserting, “This is not about hate... This is just a matter of no boys in girls sports.” The public comment period was dominated by voices from both sides, highlighting the ongoing national discourse on trans rights in education.
Central Valley board files Title IX complaint against Washington state
The Central Valley School Board has filed a federal Title IX complaint against Washington's Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, challenging state guidance on transgender sports participation. The board's decision was contentious, with Directors Stephanie Jerdon, Pam Orebaugh, and Anneice Barker supporting the complaint, while Cindy McMullen and Tere Landa opposed it. The complaint urges an investigation into state policies that allow transgender students to participate in sports and use restrooms aligned with their gender identity. The letter states, “Washington state and the State Superintendent, Chris Reykdal, have blatantly disregarded directives of the United States Department of Education.” The board seeks clarification from federal officials on compliance and aims to protect its federal funding, which constitutes 5% of its operating budget. Public comments reflected a divided community, with some advocating for the complaint and others defending the rights of transgender students.
----- TECHNOLOGY -----
Vape detectors to enhance school safety
Cypress and Loara high schools in the Anaheim Union High School District are set to install new vape detectors in restrooms and locker rooms as part of a pilot program. These sensors will alert school administrators when they detect vaping or loud noises, such as fights. This initiative aims to enhance safety and create a more secure environment for students.
----- LEGAL -----
Federal judge halts Trump administration’s education funding cuts
A federal judge in Manhattan has issued a preliminary injunction preventing U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon from canceling over $1.1bn in unspent aid designated for U.S. elementary and high schools to mitigate the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The lawsuit, initiated by New York Attorney General Letitia James and 14 other states, argues that the funds are essential for tutoring students, upgrading school facilities, and providing food for homeless students. Judge Edgardo Ramos emphasized the importance of these funds, stating that they are crucial for schools recovering from the pandemic. The Biden administration had extended the aid's availability until March 2026, but McMahon contended that states had sufficient time to utilize the funds, adding that taking back the money served the public interest, because taxpayer funds should be used for their intended purpose and the public health emergency from the pandemic had long passed. Ramos denied a stay pending appeal. The case is New York et al v U.S. Department of Education et al, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Politico Pro Courthouse News Service Education Week News Reuters
Court motion seeks to block Education Dept. OCR practices
The Southern Poverty Law Center, the National Center for Youth Law, and the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, have filed a suit asking the courts to block U.S. Department of Education civil rights investigation and enforcement policies that they say allow racial harassment, restraint and seclusion of students with disabilities, and other kinds of harassment and discrimination to go unaddressed. The motion, filed on Monday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, seeks a permanent reversal of the department’s cuts to its Office for Civil Rights. It asks the court “to restore the investigation and enforcement capacity of OCR that would enable OCR to process complaints promptly and equitably,” and to require the department to submit a restoration plan for the civil rights office. “Even as OCR generally stopped investigating complaints from the public based on race or sex discrimination, it cherry-picked and, on its own initiative, began targeted investigations into purported discrimination against white and cisgender students," it stated.
Court motion seeks to block Education Dept. OCR practices
The Southern Poverty Law Center, the National Center for Youth Law, and the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, have filed a suit asking the courts to block U.S. Department of Education civil rights investigation and enforcement policies that they say allow racial harassment, restraint and seclusion of students with disabilities, and other kinds of harassment and discrimination to go unaddressed. The motion, filed on Monday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, seeks a permanent reversal of the department’s cuts to its Office for Civil Rights. It asks the court “to restore the investigation and enforcement capacity of OCR that would enable OCR to process complaints promptly and equitably,” and to require the department to submit a restoration plan for the civil rights office. “Even as OCR generally stopped investigating complaints from the public based on race or sex discrimination, it cherry-picked and, on its own initiative, began targeted investigations into purported discrimination against white and cisgender students," it stated.
Justice Department lifts Louisiana school desegregation order
The Justice Department has lifted a long-standing school desegregation order in Louisiana, deeming its continuation a “historical wrong.” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon stated that this action reflects the Trump administration's focus on a “bright future.” The order, which dates back to 1966, was seen as an unnecessary burden by some officials, including Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, who called for the closure of other similar orders in the state. However, civil rights advocates, like Johnathan Smith, warn that this move could lead to increased segregation, stating, “most of these districts are now more segregated today than they were in 1954.” The decision has sparked concerns about the potential rollback of civil rights progress in education.
----- HEALTH & WELLBEING -----
Students' mental health crisis deepens
Recent data reveals a significant decline in mental health among K-12 students, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicating that nearly 40% of high school students reported feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2023. Lora Henderson Smith, an assistant professor at the University of Virginia, noted, “What we're seeing in terms of increases in mental health issues may not actually be an increase in diagnosis, but an increase in awareness.” The shortage of school psychologists, with a ratio of one psychologist for every 1,127 students, exacerbates the issue. Critics argue that schools should prioritize academic skills over mental health services. Despite the challenges, initiatives like universal mental health screenings and in-house counseling programs, such as those at St. Benedict's Prep and San Francisco Public Schools' Wellness Center, aim to address these pressing needs. However, funding cuts threaten the sustainability of these vital services.
----- INTERNATIONAL -----
Visa crackdown sparks travel fears
International students in the U.S. are reconsidering summer travel due to a crackdown on visas by the Trump administration. Many students, like one from the University of California, San Diego, are opting to avoid travel altogether, stating: “I probably am going to skip that to ... have as few interactions with governments as possible.” Since late March, at least 1,220 students have had their visas revoked, with the actual number likely higher at 4,736. Colleges are advising against non-essential travel, citing increased risks of deportation. Rishi Oza, an immigration lawyer, expressed concern over the situation, questioning: “Is this the character of the country we want?” The uncertainty surrounding re-entry has left many students anxious about their travel plans.
At NTA Life, we’re here to provide extra peace of mind with individual supplemental benefits that offer tax-free financial support directly to you or your loved ones. Our benefits are designed to go above and beyond your major medical insurance, helping cover things like deductibles, co-pays, and those unexpected expenses that can come up during an illness or injury. We offer the following programs:
- Cancer Coverage
- Heart Coverage
- Hospital Coverage
- Accident Coverage
- Disability Coverage
- Life Insurance
- Specified Disease Coverage – which even comes with a return of premium after 20 years!
The best part? Most of our benefits are guaranteed renewable for life, meaning you can keep them even if you switch districts or retire.
We’re so thankful for the strong partnership we have with ABCFT, and we look forward to continuing to support and serve your incredible educators.
If you’d like to learn more, feel free to reach out anytime:
- Leann Blaisdell: 562-822-5004 | leann.blaisdell@horacemann.com
- Shannon Donovan: 714-727-8261 | shannon.donovan@horacemann.com
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