The Little Lake City School District and its teachers union returned to the bargaining table Monday after negotiations stalled and educators went on strike last week.
While negotiations resumed, the strike remained ongoing, with teachers returning to picket lines Monday morning across all nine school campuses.
Educators represented by the Little Lake Education Association (LLEA) began picketing Thursday morning.
Union members, students and community supporters also planned a candlelight vigil Monday evening outside the district office in Santa Fe Springs in a show of solidarity with striking educators.
The event comes as union members continue canvassing and collecting signatures in an effort to recall all five school board members, and ahead of the June contract expiration for Superintendent Jonathan Vasquez.
Union officials said the dispute centers on proposed midyear health care changes that could increase some employees’ monthly costs to as much as $1,400, which they contend amounts to a pay cut. They are also calling for smaller class sizes and more support for special education programs.
“Our resolve is stronger than ever. Little Lake students deserve safe, stable, fully-staffed schools,” LLEA president Maria Pilios said in a statement Monday. “We call on our elected and community allies to stand with us in this fight; the future of our community depends on it.”
The district, headquartered in Santa Fe Springs, serves students in portions of Santa Fe Springs, Norwalk and a small part of Downey.
Earlier this month, 94% of union members voted in favor of authorizing a strike.
“Right now, the district has cut our healthcare benefits, proposed cuts to staffing, increased class sizes and they are refusing to provide more support to meet the growing needs of an increasing Special Education student population. We are here to demand they do better by our community,” Pilios said in a statement Thursday.
District Superintendent Jonathan Vasquez previously said officials were working to reach an agreement while maintaining financial stability.
“Our teachers and staff are at the heart of our district, and we remain committed to reaching an agreement that reflects their contributions while ensuring the long-term stability of our schools,” Vasquez said.
“The district strongly disagrees with the characterization that we are not investing in classrooms or student supports. Our budget reflects ongoing investments in instructional programs, special education services, and student interventions. At the same time, we must balance these priorities with our legal obligation to maintain fiscal solvency, including meeting the state-required reserve levels,” he added.
Union officials also said they filed an unfair labor practice charge, alleging the district improperly asked educators to disclose their strike intentions.
“They’ve spent millions on outside contractors instead of investing in our classrooms,” Pilios said in an earlier statement. “Our students deserve better, and we refuse to accept cuts that harm both educators and the learning conditions our students depend on.”