Community Ask: Support Our Students
SRVEA educators believe that their students deserve the best- and that means a school district budget that puts students and educators first. Next Tuesday, February 17th, educators are making the sacrifice of an unpaid day to protect class sizes and mental health services our students rely on, while District management has chosen to pay themselves.
These actions make it very clear: this is not a budget problem; it is a values problem. Students need stability, support and investment, District leadership must reprioritize its spending and its values to put students and educators first. We need you to stand with us! Contact SRVUSD Superintendent CJ Cammack and School Board President Susanna Ordway and tell them to realign their priorities, values and spending to reflect what our community and educators know to be true: San Ramon Valley Students Deserve the Best! CJ Cammack, Superintendent superintendent@srvusd.net Susanna Ordway, School Board President sordway@srvusd.net |
|
An Open Letter to the San Ramon Valley Community
From the President of the San Ramon Valley Education Association
To the San Ramon Valley Community,
Last year the SRVUSD Board of Education tasked management with cutting over $26 million from the district budget. They based this on projections for declining enrollment and ADA. A Budget Advisory Committee—made up of parents, students, community members, educators, labor unions, and management—was convened and they had one clear and consistent message:
Keep cuts away from our kids.
However, the Superintendent’s proposed plan cut closest to the classroom, by increasing class sizes, eliminating all elementary counselors, cutting over half of the social worker team, eliminating support counselors, and issuing over 200 layoff notices. Additionally, educators were assigned furlough days resulting in a pay cut. Although many of those layoffs were rescinded, we still lost close to 5% of our instructional workforce.
During negotiations SRVEA dealt in good faith. We advocated loudly and often for management to do more – cut deeper into the central office, create a retirement incentives, and put students first. Our educators agreed to furlough days to ensure elementary class sizes were protected and critical student mental-health supports were maintained.
The Budget Advisory Committee was equally clear that if educators were being asked to sacrifice, then management would need to do more. The adopted Budget Reduction Plan took that stance by including management furlough days.
Yet, at a summer board meeting, management asked for – and was approved – the restoration of ALL of their furlough days, funded through approximately $1.3 million of the Student Support and Professional Development Discretionary Block Grant. This is the same grant educators chose to use to protect students. When faced with the same decision, management chose to protect their salaries rather than restore student services such as the resident sub program, elementary assistant principals, summer school, or curriculum and textbook support...if even just for a year.
As a result of that decision, educators are shouldering the financial burden today so students can receive services.
Since then, our budget picture has changed. Management finally agreed to our proposed retirement incentive which will save the district over $3 million a year for the next five years. They adopted a Revenue Enhancement Plan we asked them to create that can bring in new money. And the proposed State Budget for 2026–27 is looking to extend the discretionary block grant, which could mean nearly $14 million in one-time funds for our students and educators. Our ratified agreement states that the district will meet with SRVEA to review finances and work towards either restoring positions and/or reducing furlough days. So far, zero effort has been made.
In recent communications, the Superintendent outlined his view of the budget—but did not acknowledge educators’ sacrifices, explain why management restored their own furlough days first, or clarify how new funds will be used.
Our educators kept students first. We expect the same from district leadership.
Putting students first includes making educators whole.
We are asking parents and community members to stand with educators and students by:
Students deserve fully funded schools.
Educators deserve to be treated with fairness and respect.
Our community deserves transparency and accountability.
It’s time we put students first by holding those who claim to care about students accountable and restoring what was sacrificed for them.
Last year the SRVUSD Board of Education tasked management with cutting over $26 million from the district budget. They based this on projections for declining enrollment and ADA. A Budget Advisory Committee—made up of parents, students, community members, educators, labor unions, and management—was convened and they had one clear and consistent message:
Keep cuts away from our kids.
However, the Superintendent’s proposed plan cut closest to the classroom, by increasing class sizes, eliminating all elementary counselors, cutting over half of the social worker team, eliminating support counselors, and issuing over 200 layoff notices. Additionally, educators were assigned furlough days resulting in a pay cut. Although many of those layoffs were rescinded, we still lost close to 5% of our instructional workforce.
During negotiations SRVEA dealt in good faith. We advocated loudly and often for management to do more – cut deeper into the central office, create a retirement incentives, and put students first. Our educators agreed to furlough days to ensure elementary class sizes were protected and critical student mental-health supports were maintained.
The Budget Advisory Committee was equally clear that if educators were being asked to sacrifice, then management would need to do more. The adopted Budget Reduction Plan took that stance by including management furlough days.
Yet, at a summer board meeting, management asked for – and was approved – the restoration of ALL of their furlough days, funded through approximately $1.3 million of the Student Support and Professional Development Discretionary Block Grant. This is the same grant educators chose to use to protect students. When faced with the same decision, management chose to protect their salaries rather than restore student services such as the resident sub program, elementary assistant principals, summer school, or curriculum and textbook support...if even just for a year.
As a result of that decision, educators are shouldering the financial burden today so students can receive services.
Since then, our budget picture has changed. Management finally agreed to our proposed retirement incentive which will save the district over $3 million a year for the next five years. They adopted a Revenue Enhancement Plan we asked them to create that can bring in new money. And the proposed State Budget for 2026–27 is looking to extend the discretionary block grant, which could mean nearly $14 million in one-time funds for our students and educators. Our ratified agreement states that the district will meet with SRVEA to review finances and work towards either restoring positions and/or reducing furlough days. So far, zero effort has been made.
In recent communications, the Superintendent outlined his view of the budget—but did not acknowledge educators’ sacrifices, explain why management restored their own furlough days first, or clarify how new funds will be used.
Our educators kept students first. We expect the same from district leadership.
Putting students first includes making educators whole.
We are asking parents and community members to stand with educators and students by:
- Contacting the Board of Education to demand restoration of educator furlough days and reinvestment in student services.
- Contact Governor Newsom (916-445-2841) to insist that Prop 98 be fully funded and all deferrals repaid.
Students deserve fully funded schools.
Educators deserve to be treated with fairness and respect.
Our community deserves transparency and accountability.
It’s time we put students first by holding those who claim to care about students accountable and restoring what was sacrificed for them.
Welcome to SRVEA!The San Ramon Valley Education Association is comprised of teachers, counselors, nurses, school psychologists, social workers, teacher-librarians, and speech pathologists throughout the San Ramon Valley Unified School District.
We are committed to advocating for a quality public education for all children. Would you like more information about SRVEA?
You can sign up at this link. Important Links:
San Ramon Valley Unified School District San Ramon Valley USD Instructional Calendar California Teachers Association National Education Association California Commission on Teacher Credentialing California Teachers Retirement System California Department of Education |
SRVEA Equity StatementSRVEA teachers are committed to implementing equity, social justice, and anti-racism into our teaching practices. Our students deserve a thorough, equitable education that includes the perspectives and experiences of those who have frequently been omitted from the dominant narrative.
We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion so every student feels safe, protected, and valued--regardless of race, gender, ability, or immigration status. As a union, we stand for inclusive schools, equitable access to opportunity, and a profession that reflects and respects the communities we serve. We believe justice in education is justice in society. 
Articles of Interest:
SRVUSD-SRVEA Contract Information About Weingarten Rights How To Read Your SRVUSD Paycheck SRVEA Enrollment Form SRVEA Educator's Rights and Special Education SRVEA Daily Behavior Incident Report Form *make a copy for your own use and records |
SRVEA Stands With Minnesota
Statement from the San Ramon Valley Education Association on the Situation in Minnesota
The San Ramon Valley Education Association stands in solidarity with our fellow educators in Minnesota who are working to protect their students, families, and school communities during a deeply challenging moment. Across the state, school staff and unions have mobilized to support immigrant students and families who are facing fear, disruption, and hardship as federal immigration enforcement activities affect daily school life and student well-being. Educators have stepped up to provide emotional support, safety resources, and essential care while advocating for learning environments where every child feels secure and valued.
The National Education Association has made clear its support for Minnesota educators and their efforts to ensure that schools remain safe, welcoming places for all students, regardless of background. As SRVEA, we stand with NEA and with Minnesota educators in affirming that every student deserves a safe, inclusive educational environment free from trauma and fear. (nea.org)
The San Ramon Valley Education Association stands in solidarity with our fellow educators in Minnesota who are working to protect their students, families, and school communities during a deeply challenging moment. Across the state, school staff and unions have mobilized to support immigrant students and families who are facing fear, disruption, and hardship as federal immigration enforcement activities affect daily school life and student well-being. Educators have stepped up to provide emotional support, safety resources, and essential care while advocating for learning environments where every child feels secure and valued.
The National Education Association has made clear its support for Minnesota educators and their efforts to ensure that schools remain safe, welcoming places for all students, regardless of background. As SRVEA, we stand with NEA and with Minnesota educators in affirming that every student deserves a safe, inclusive educational environment free from trauma and fear. (nea.org)