Smaller Classes, Bright Futures
A Better SVUSD is Possible!
Smaller Classes, Brighter Futures: Standing Strong for SVUSD Students
To Our Dedicated Parent & Community Partners,
Over the past year and a half, parents, community members, and educators have stood shoulder-to-shoulder in our "Smaller Classes, Brighter Futures" campaign. Together, we have marched, submitted petitions, and demanded that Saddleback Valley Unified School District (SVUSD) prioritize what matters most: our children's learning conditions.
Month after month, determined parents have taken the mic at board meetings and sent countless emails and letters detailing the urgent need for change. Yet, every single message lands on deaf ears. Neither the school board nor district administrators feel compelled to address these pressing issues, choosing instead to brush off our community and stubbornly protect the status quo.
Despite this continuous, relentless advocacy, district administration continues to ignore our voices and answer every reasonable request with a blanket "NO." We want to give you a clear update on where bargaining stands, present the factual data, and ask for your immediate help before a critical deadline today!
URGENT ACTION NEEDED: Complete the LCAP Survey BY TODAY 10/20!
We need every parent and community member to make their voice heard.
The District’s LCAP (Local Control and Accountability Plan) Survey closes TOMORROW, October 20.
It is much shorter this year! It takes only a few minutes to complete.
Share Your Narrative Responses: Use the open comment sections to explicitly state that SVUSD must prioritize smaller class sizes, the elimination of combination classes, and manageable Special Education caseloads.
Please take 5 minutes today to fill out the survey and demand that SVUSD invest our public tax dollars directly into the classroom where our children learn. Thank you for your unwavering support and dedication to our students. (Your students can complete the survey as well.)
Why Class Sizes and Caseloads Matter: The Data
Research and expert testimony demonstrate that class size and caseloads directly dictate student achievement and classroom safety:
Individualized Support & Comprehension: Smaller classes allow teachers to provide direct, differentiated instruction, resulting in higher academic achievement and long-term student success (Finn & Achilles, 1999; Krueger, 2003).
Behavioral & Emotional Well-Being: Proactive behavioral management and stronger teacher-student relationships significantly reduce classroom disruptions and enhance social-emotional learning (Bascia, 2010; Blatchford et al., 2011).
District Retention & Satisfaction: Lower student-to-teacher ratios increase parent satisfaction, build community trust, and prevent families from leaving for private or charter options (NEPC, 2011).
Special Education Compliance: High caseloads place Special Education teachers in "survival mode," making it difficult to implement Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) with fidelity and increasing legal risk under IDEA standards.
** Image below is a link to the initial Class Size Matters Slide Deck
Timeline of Bargaining & Campaign Key Events
Here is how our collective effort and contract negotiations have unfolded since inception:
Spring 2025 – Campaign Launch & Community Kickoff: SVEA launches the Smaller Classes, Brighter Futures campaign in Spring 2025. On March 4, 2025, SVEA and the Parent Co-Op host a joint informational presentation detailing research on class sizes and community advocacy goals.
April 28, 2025 – SVEA Proposals Presented: SVEA formally introduces Article VI (Class Size) and Article XVI (Special Education Caseloads) proposals to the district. SVEA proposes a multi-year rollout for site-based class size averages, enforceable caps, limits on combination classes, and updated special education caseload limits.
May 12, 2025 – November 19, 2025 – District Rejections & Stalling: During bargaining, SVUSD repeatedly counters by simply crossing out all proposed new language regarding class size caps, site-based averages, and caseload limits. SVEA offers multiple concessions—including delayed implementations and simplified language—while SVUSD offers no material changes and insists on status quo district-wide averages.
August 7, 2025 – Public Board Testimony: Parents, teachers, and local business owners deliver passionate public comments at the SVUSD Board of Trustees meeting exposing inflated reserves and overcrowded classrooms.
December 10, 2025 – SVEA Declares Impasse: With the district refusing to negotiate meaningfully on class sizes or special education caseloads, SVEA officially declares an impasse.
February – May 2026 – Drawn-Out Mediation Sessions: Under EERA rules, mediation sessions typically occur within 1 to 2 weeks to maintain bargaining momentum. However, SVUSD intentionally dragged out the process by claiming lack of availability, delaying the three mediation sessions across February, March, and May 2026.
May 20, 2026 – Certification for Fact-Finding: Recognizing the district's continued refusal to compromise, the state mediator officially certifies SVEA and SVUSD for statutory Fact-Finding.
Summer 2026 – SVEA Concession on Hearing Dates: SVEA makes a major concession to delay the Fact-Finding hearing until September, respecting the fact that educators were not under contract during the summer.
June 2026 – Budget Enactment & Unbudgeted Millions: The state budget enactment brings SVUSD just shy of $30 million in new, ongoing, and unaccounted-for funding (including LCFF COLA and Special Education base grant increases) that was not reflected in their June adopted budget.
September 4, 2026 – Fact-Finding Hearing & Labor Day Rally: SVEA engages in the formal Fact-Finding hearing alongside a massive Labor Day rally outside district offices. The candidate for California Superintendent of Public Instruction attends and speaks on our behalf, thanking educators and parents for standing up for students and their learning conditions.
The District's True Strategy Exposed: Through these year-long deliberate delays, SVUSD achieved exactly what it set out to do: stall all negotiations until full contract reopeners opened up, allowing them to bring salary and benefits to the table to leverage against our health benefits and force a trade-off against smaller class sizes.
Our Proposals vs. The District's Reality
What SVEA Proposed:
Site-Based Class Size Averages & Caps: Shifting away from district-wide averages (which hide overcrowded classrooms in high-growth neighborhood schools) to enforceable site-based averages and class size limits.
Eliminating Combo Classes: Eliminating TK–1 combination classes and capping combos at one per grade level. (keeping sites from having a 1/2 and a 2/3).
Reasonable Special Education Caseloads: Updating outdated Special Education caseload formulas to match modern service delivery models.
The District's Response:
Crossing Out Language: Rather than engaging in collaborative problem-solving, SVUSD repeatedly returned proposals with all new language crossed out.
Unresponsive & Dismissive: Parents and educators have addressed the board for years, only to be met with silence, stalling, or a simple "NO".
The Financial Reality: The District CAN Afford This!
SVUSD claims they lack the funds to lower class sizes or support special education. The financial data proves otherwise:
Surge in Unbudgeted Dollars: SVUSD is receiving nearly $30 million in additional funding not accounted for in their June adopted budget (including an estimated $6.8M–$7.4M in LCFF COLA and $9M in ongoing Special Education funding).
SVEA's Fiscally Responsible Request: SVEA has never suggested spending all incoming dollars on class sizes. Our 2025–2026 class size proposal requires an efficient investment of just under $5 million (approx. 19 additional FTEs and overage costs) to address class size, reduce combo classes, and support special education.
Skyrocketing Spending on Consultants: Over the past 5 years, SVUSD has increased spending on Professional/Consulting Services (Object 5800) by over 300% (surging from $7.6M to over $30.7M) and increased non-public agency/contractor spending by 142%.
**Intial proposals built for 2025-2026 based on previous year's financial data. 2025-2026 unaudited actuals are just being finalized. However, data for new incoming funds is accurate based on the approved governors budget in June of 2026.
In Person Class Size Matters Meeting
Our collective voice as parents, community members, and educators is the strongest tool we have to protect our schools and support our students. Following our recent bargaining updates, Fact-Finding hearing, and ongoing efforts to address class sizes and special education caseloads, we want to gather in person to connect, listen, and plan our next steps together. Please RSVP below so that we can plan refreshments and for children.
