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Heads up! We have scanned the upcoming agenda for Downey Unified. We found 9 items that need your immediate attention before the vote.
| HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 10) |
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Teacher Pay Bumps for “Cultural Proficiency”
The district is ratifying an MOU (Item 5.2) that creates a pathway for teachers to get salary increases by completing a “Cultural Proficiency Certificate Program.” “Cultural Proficiency” is a core concept of Critical Race Theory and DEI, meaning the district is incentivizing teachers with taxpayer money to adopt and teach a divisive political ideology.
Recommended Action Plan
PACK THE ROOM: This is a direct pipeline for CRT in our schools. Email the Board (contact info on district website): ‘Vote NO on Item 5.2. We will not pay teachers extra to become political activists. Teacher pay should be tied to academic results, not ideological indoctrination.’
💰 Impact: Taxpayer-Funded Indoctrination
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| HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 9) |
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Nearly $300k for Outside Student Counseling
The district is approving a $294,134.82 contract (Item 2.42) with Jewish Family and Children’s Services for “individual and group counseling services.” This creates a school-based mental health pipeline that can operate outside of parental view, potentially discussing sensitive topics like gender identity and sexuality without parental knowledge or consent.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Email the Board (contact info on district website): ‘Pull Consent Item 2.42 for a separate vote. What specific parental consent and notification policies govern the counseling services provided by this outside vendor? We do not consent to therapy for our children without our full knowledge and presence.’
💰 Impact: $294,134.82
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| HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 9) |
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Vague Title — Manual Review Required
The Board is set to approve a bundle of “updated Board Policies, Regulations and Bylaws” (Item 3.4) without disclosing the content in the agenda. This is a common tactic to pass controversial changes—like new gender identity policies or restrictions on parental rights—without public scrutiny.
Recommended Action Plan
PACK THE ROOM: This is a major transparency failure. Email the Board (contact info on district website): ‘Table Item 3.4, the Board Policy Updates. The public must have at least two weeks to review the full text of any proposed policy changes before a vote. Vote NO until the documents are made public.’
💰 Impact: Reduced Parental Oversight
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| HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 8) |
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District Spends $40k on SEL Teacher Training
The district is spending $40,600 on “Capturing Kids’ Hearts” training (Item 2.81), which is explicitly described as providing “social/emotional tools.” This is a classic Social Emotional Learning (SEL) program that often serves as a delivery system for ideological content and shifts focus away from core academics.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Email the Board (contact info on district website): ‘Pull Consent Item 2.81 for a full discussion. Parents send their children to school for academics, not for psychological programming. Vote NO on funding Social Emotional Learning.’
💰 Impact: $40,600
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| NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 7) |
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District Adopts “Restorative Practices”
The district is paying for staff training in “Essentials of Restorative Practices” (Item 2.35). This approach often reduces consequences for misbehavior, removes disruptive students from the classroom less frequently, and can compromise school safety and the learning environment for all students.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Email the Board (contact info on district website): ‘Pull Consent Item 2.35 for a full discussion. How will ‘Restorative Practices’ affect student discipline and classroom safety? Parents must be assured that accountability will be maintained.’
💰 Impact: $3,450
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| NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 6) |
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Staff Training in “Equity” and “MTSS”
The district is sending numerous staff, including the Superintendent, to conferences focused on “Equity,” “MTSS,” and “Community Schools” (Item 2.2). These are often code for replacing academics with political agendas and expanding the school’s role into family life without parental consent.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Email the Board (contact info on district website): ‘Regarding Consent Item 2.2, what specific, academically-focused skills will staff learn at the Equity, MTSS, and Community Schools conferences? Parents expect professional development to improve reading and math scores, not to train staff in political activism.’
💰 Impact: Taxpayer-Funded Activism
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| MONITOR (LEVEL 5) |
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Vague “Healthy Habits” Student Study
The district is partnering with the Gasol Foundation for a “Healthy Habits for Life Intervention Study” involving workshops at five elementary schools (Item 2.84). This program involves data collection on children and their families under the vague banner of ‘healthy habits,’ which can include sensitive lifestyle and psychological information.
Recommended Action Plan
OPT-OUT ALERT: Email the Board (contact info on district website): ‘Regarding Item 2.84, what specific data is being collected on students and families in the Gasol Foundation study? Please provide the specific parental opt-out form before this is voted on, and confirm parents must opt-in, not opt-out.’
💰 Impact: Your Child’s Data
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| ALERT (LEVEL 4) |
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District Approves More Student Screen Time
The district is approving a contract with IXL, LLC (Item 2.55), a major EdTech software provider. While this specific contract is for teacher training on Rosetta Stone, it represents the district’s ongoing investment in screen-based learning.
Recommended Action Plan
ASK THE BOARD: Email the Board (contact info on district website): ‘Regarding Item 2.55 and the use of IXL products, what is the total daily screen time expected for a student using district-approved software? Please provide the independent, non-vendor-funded evidence showing this product produces academic gains that justify replacing direct instruction.’
💰 Impact: $1,095
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✅ Wins to Defend
Good moves worth showing up to support so they stick.
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| Major Win (LEVEL 8) |
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WIN: District Expands Welding and Manufacturing Programs
The Board is approving two new Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs: Welding and Metal Fabrication, and Advanced Manufacturing (Item 4.1). This is a fantastic move away from social agendas and back toward providing students with real-world, valuable skills for high-demand jobs.
How to Lock It In
AMPLIFY THIS WIN: Show up to thank the Board for approving Item 4.1. Publicly praise their focus on practical skills and workforce development. This sets a great precedent for our district and others.
✅ Why It Matters: Return to Academics
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