San Juan Capistrano, CA – July 11, 2024 – The California School Employees Association (CSEA) Chapter 224, representing classified staff in the Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD), today announced the launch of its "Your Effort Secures Summer" (Y.E.S.S.) campaign. The campaign aims to reduce summer poverty among classified staff by uniting members in support for the State’s Classified School Employees Summer Assistance Program, a $99-million state program that requires school districts to opt-in before offering it to their qualifying classified employees.

Last winter the union chapter gathered more than 500 signatures in support of CUSD opting-into this important and much needed program. The district refused to offer the program for the 2024-2025 school year before the January 2024 deadline. CSEA leaders are hoping to gain enough support over the next several months before the January 2025 deadline to encourage CUSD to opt-in for the 2025-2026 school year. 

“Classified employees are some of the lowest paid in the CUSD district; most make less than $62,000 and work fewer than 11 months per year. With salaries below the low-income level for Orange County, it’s tough to save enough and make it through the summer. Because classified employees have a year-long contract with the district, we don’t qualify for summer unemployment and it’s hard to find seasonal work,” said Juli Isola, co-chair for the Chapter 224 ad hoc committee organizing the Y.E.S.S. campaign. “The state understands the value classified employees bring to our schools and the hardship these jobs create in the summer, so the legislature created this $99-million program. Unfortunately, CUSD is blocking us from accessing it.”

Campaign Mission:

The Y.E.S.S. campaign focuses on three key objectives:

• Educate and Empower Members: The campaign will provide CSEA Chapter 224 members with comprehensive information about CSESAP and its potential benefits for classified staff and the entire school community.
• Unify Chapter 224: The Y.E.S.S. campaign will foster a sense of solidarity among classified staff, encouraging them to actively participate in advocating for CSESAP adoption.
• Secure Board Approval: The campaign will strive to garner a majority vote from the CUSD Board of Trustees to approve CUSD's participation in CSESAP.

Campaign Activities:

The Y.E.S.S. campaign will encompass a variety of activities throughout the summer and fall, including:

• Educational Outreach: Chapter 224 members will receive informative materials and communications about CSESAP through various channels, including email campaigns and presentations at school sites.
• Community Engagement: The campaign will seek to build alliances with other CSEA chapters, the Capistrano Unified Education Association (CUEA), parents, and community stakeholders to amplify its message.
• Lobbying Efforts: The campaign will train and mobilize teams to lobby CUSD Board candidates and current board members, advocating for CSESAP's adoption.
• Media Relations: The Y.E.S.S. campaign will actively engage with local media outlets to raise awareness about CSESAP and its potential positive impact on classified staff families.

Campaign Timeline:

The Y.E.S.S. campaign will run throughout the summer and fall, culminating in a critical Board of Trustees meeting scheduled for October 16, 2024. CSEA Chapter 224 requires board approval by December 2024 to secure CSESAP participation for the 2025-2026 school year.

Committee Leadership:

The Y.E.S.S. campaign is co-chaired by Bonnie Bayramkul and Juli Isola, dedicated members of CSEA Chapter 224.

Quotes:

• "I’m a Paraeducator who loves my job! I love my co-workers and the students we all support. I want to be able to stay and retire some day from CUSD, and the benefit of the matching savings program CSESAP would put me on track to do this! It would be a shame to lose any of our qualified, compassionate employees due to financial reasons that could be corrected with CSESAP,” said Bonnie Bayramkul, Co-Chair of the Y.E.S.S. Campaign, CSEA site rep and CUSD Paraeducator.
• "I don’t think enough people know about or understand the CSESAP program and how important it is for so many in our district community. I’m confident that the YESS campaign will get the word out and by talking directly to leaders they will see the long-term and far reaching impact of this program on our community. CSESAP will lift so many families out of summer poverty and help them keep some of their hard-earned savings while offering the district an incentive for employee retention. It’s a win-win!,” Juli Isola, Co-Chair of the Y.E.S.S. Campaign, CSEA site rep and CUSD Library Media Tech.

About CSEA Chapter 224

CSEA Chapter 224 represents classified employees of the Capistrano Unified School District, including paraprofessionals, instructional assistants, bus drivers, custodians, food service workers, and many other vital roles that support student success. The chapter advocates for fair wages, benefits, and working conditions for its members.

Contact:

Juli Isola, Y.E.S.S. co-chair, yess4csesap@gmail.com