Parents, students press Salinas Union to clarify plan for community-schools staff amid concerns about cuts

Several parents, students and community organizers used the public-comment period at the Salinas Union High School District board meeting to press the district for a clear plan to preserve positions that support community schools.

Alma Loredo, an organizer with BHC United Parents Committee, said parents have not yet seen the promised plan addressing "eliminating critical positions that support community schools through restorative justice, health, and well-being." She told trustees the community expects specific steps and accountability: "We want to ask you to take responsibility for our requests and to put into action what you have promised us," Loredo said.

Student trustee Kayla Alvarez'''s districtwide survey, presented later in the meeting, reinforced the public commenters''' concerns. Alvarez told the board her 1,286-response survey showed restorative-justice facilitator losses and unsafe or inaccessible bathrooms were recurring themes across multiple sites; she said students named the removal of R.J. staff as a "major step backwards" at several campuses.

Board members acknowledged receipt of the comments and said they would take steps to include community perspectives in upcoming budget and staffing discussions. Trustees emphasized timelines for future decisions and encouraged continued dialogue, but no new staffing commitments were announced during the meeting.

The speakers called for concrete, public next steps, including a plan showing who will implement services if positions are eliminated and how students' safety and access to support services will be maintained. The board did not adopt a formal directive at the meeting; it received the comments and proceeded to scheduled action items and budget presentations.