ATA Weekly

Board Meeting Shows Strong Solidarity

At this week’s Board of Education meeting, ATA members, parents, students, and other community members united to voice their opposition to AUSD’s proposed counseling layoffs and to champion student support. We extend our deepest appreciation to every ATA member, student, parent, and community ally who attended and raised their voice. Your presence powerfully demonstrated unwavering support for our colleagues and the students they serve.

While the Board has, for now, decided to proceed with the layoffs, the turnout and testimony made a real difference. Together, we sent a clear message that counselors are essential to AUSD students’ wellbeing and success, and that our school communities truly understand the impact these cuts will have on accessing their valuable counselor resources. This is the ultimate strength of our union: educators stand side by side when student support and health is at stake.

We deeply appreciate everyone who attended, spoke, wore ATA gear, encouraged others to participate, and/or helped build support in any way. ATA remains firmly committed to standing with our affected colleagues and will continue to advocate for the student services our schools deserve as AUSD’s budget decisions unfold. Please watch for upcoming ATA updates and opportunities to get involved in our ongoing advocacy.

Highlights from ATA and Community Members to the Board

“Every day, students come to school carrying burdens that are not always visible, and counselors are often the people who meet those needs first.”

“Eliminating counseling positions will not remove student need. It will only reduce our ability to respond. Caseloads will rise. Students will wait longer for support. Staff already under strain will be asked to absorb even more. And the students with the least support outside school will bear the greatest loss.”

“If we say student wellness and student success matter, then our actions must match those words. A budget reflects priorities.”

On March 10, the AUSD Board of Education, at the urging of the AUSD Executive Cabinet, voted to lay off five of our counselors. This action comes at a time when we are seeing a rise in both the number and severity of student behaviors requiring counselor intervention.

Not only do we now have fewer counselors available to support students, but AUSD administrators often discourage, or at times outright prohibit, teachers from suspending students from class when behaviors become too difficult to manage or disrupt student learning. ATA wants to make clear that, under Ed. Code Sec. 48910, you have the right to suspend students from your class for up to two school days for any reason listed in Ed. Code Sec. 48900.

Q. Can I suspend a student before attempting any other means of correction?
A. Yes. While other means of correction, such as counseling or restorative practices, are preferred and, in some cases, required first, suspension may occur without prior interventions if the student’s actions are serious enough to pose a danger to others or property, or to seriously disrupt the instructional process. If you have already attempted other forms of correction and the behavior continues, the principles of progressive discipline support your right to suspend the student from your classroom.

Q. My site administrator told me I could not suspend a student because I had not used other means of correction. But that is not true. I have, and this student’s behavior does not change. Can I continue to suspend the student from my class?
A. Yes. You may impose an additional two-day suspension for each new behavior listed in Ed. Code Sec. 48900.

Q. Can I suspend the student for more than one day?
A. Yes. You have the right to suspend the student for the day of the suspension and the following school day.

Q. I suspended a student for willful defiance for two days, but when the student returned, the same behavior happened again. I suspended the student a second time, but my site administrator said I could not do so without first meeting with the parent regarding the first suspension. Is this true?
A. No. There is no such requirement in Ed. Code. The law only requires that, “As soon as possible, the teacher shall ask the parent or guardian of the pupil to attend a parent-teacher conference regarding the suspension.” This means you must reach out to the parent and request a conference. Many factors may delay that meeting. You still retain the right under Ed. Code to suspend the student again upon their return, even if the parent has not responded or the conference is scheduled for a later date.

Q. I often have parents who do not respond to my requests to meet, or who tell me they do not have time. What should I do in those situations?
A. Ed. Code only requires that you ask the parent to meet with you. If the parent declines or does not respond, you have still met that obligation. If possible, you may offer to hold the conference by phone or virtually. ATA also suggests requesting that your administrator be present.

Q. Can an administrator send a student back to my classroom before the two days are through?
A. Not without your agreement, under Ed. Code.

Q. I teach in elementary school. Can I suspend a student from my class for two days?
A. Yes. This rule does not change at the elementary level. You have the right to suspend the student from your classroom for the remainder of the day of the suspension and the full following school day.

Because student behavior continues to intensify, and access to counselors is about to worsen, we want to make sure you know you have the right to suspend students from class, subject to certain conditions. ATA and CTA are taking seriously any attempt by administrators to infringe on those rights, and we are conferring with CTA legal counsel on this matter. If you believe your right to suspend a student from your classroom has been violated, please contact me right away. If you have questions not addressed here, please email me. And if you encounter any issues with classroom suspensions in the future, please let us know as soon as possible so we may intervene.

Liz Pinkava

California Teachers Association

UniServ Executive Director, Alhambra, Garvey, South Pasadena

EPinkava@cta.org

As unit members file for retirement, inquiries regarding voluntary transfer opportunities in the District have surfaced. The form to request a voluntary transfer is available on the District website and the HR department.

Article XVI: Transfers (p. 48) of the contract outlines factors considered when determining which unit members are granted a transfer. They include:

• Possession of an appropriate credential, major/minor and appropriate recent experience for the opening.
  
• Requirements of the District's Affirmative Action program.
  
• The educational needs of the District, such as General Program changes or requirements, the District's Bilingual Program requirements (as approved by OCR-Office of Civil Rights), Special Education Program requirements, changes in graduation requirements.
  
• The most recent written evaluation is satisfactory or better.
  
• The unit member with the greatest District seniority shall receive the transfer, provided the above factors are equal.
  

Upon request of the unit member, the District must provide written reason(s) why the transfer request was denied. The reasons are not grievable and should not be placed in the unit member's personnel file.

Questions? Feel free to reach out to ATA for support.

We received several requests for ATA t-shirts this week as we were preparing to attend the BOE meeting this Tuesday. If you haven't submitted an order and would like to show your support of ATA by ordering your t-shirt, please call ATA.

Apply now for the Institute for Teaching (IFT) Educator Grant Program and bring your ideas to life for the 2026-2027 school year.

● Individual Grant (previously the “Educator Grant”): Up to $5,000 for individual educators to impact a classroom or group of students.

● Team Grant (previously the “Impact Grant”): Up to $20,000 for teams of two or more educators (three recommended) to make an impact across multiple classrooms or school sites.

Applications are due by Thursday, April 2, 2026.

Learn more and apply at https://instituteforteaching.org

March 17

- ATA Rep Council (4:00 pm, ATA Office)

April 6

- Grievance (4:00 pm, ATA Office)

April 7

- ATA Board of Directors (4:00 pm, ATA Office)

- Board of Education (6 pm, Marengo West)

April 21

- ATA Rep Council (4:00 pm, ATA Office)

April 28

- Board of Education (6 pm, Marengo West)

The Alhambra Teachers Association (ATA) exists to protect and promote the well-being of its members; to improve the conditions of teaching and learning; to advance the cause of free, universal, and quality public education; to ensure that the human dignity and civil rights of all children and youth are protected; and to secure a more just equitable and democratic society.

Email: ataoffice3030@gmail.com
Website: www.alhambrateachers.org
Location: 3030 West Main Street, Alhambra, CA, USA
Phone: (626)289-1933
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlhambraTeachersAssociation/