Santa Fe Springs Teachers Vote to Strike as Board Eliminates Jobs

Facing layoffs and rising healthcare costs, teachers vote to strike if talks fail at Little Lake City School District.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 1:34am

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Teachers at nine schools in Santa Fe Springs, Norwalk and parts of Downey voted to strike if a third, and final, option to resolve differences with their school board fails. The five-member board voted unanimously to eliminate the positions of 15 tenured teachers and one vice principal, bringing the total job cuts to around 10% of the teaching staff. The teachers' union and school district have entered the fact-finding stage of negotiations as part of the state's collective bargaining process, with both sides awaiting a date to proceed.

Why it matters

This strike vote highlights the ongoing tensions between teachers and school districts over issues like healthcare costs and budget priorities. The Little Lake City School District's decision to eliminate teaching positions despite recently approving bond measures for 'teacher retention' has further strained the relationship between educators and the administration.

The details

With almost all of the 200 or so members of the Little Lake Education Association participating, 94% approved proceeding with a strike if needed. The five-member school board voted unanimously to eliminate the positions of 15 tenured teachers and one vice principal, adding to the six non-tenured teachers who were also let go. The district and teachers' union have entered the fact-finding stage of negotiations, which involves a neutral three-member panel that will review the issues and provide recommendations.

  • The teachers voted on March 4 to approve the strike if needed.
  • The school board voted on March 10 to eliminate the teaching positions.

The players

Little Lake Education Association

The teachers' union representing educators in the Little Lake City School District.

Little Lake City School District

The 154-year-old school district serving Santa Fe Springs, Norwalk and parts of Downey.

Maria Pilios

President of the Little Lake Education Association.

Jonathan Vasquez

Superintendent of the Little Lake City School District.

Eric Marsoobian

Bargaining chair for the Little Lake Education Association.

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What they’re saying

“Even though we are hoping for a quick resolution, we are prepared to go the distance. The members of Little Lake Education Association want to reach a fair agreement and will continue to proudly serve the families of this community and provide the children of this neighborhood with the best education we can, despite the negotiation conflict with the school district.”

— Maria Pilios, President, Little Lake Education Association

“We remain committed to continuing negotiations in good faith and working collaboratively with our labor partners to reach a mutually agreeable resolution.”

— Jonathan Vasquez, Superintendent, Little Lake City School District

“It is heart-breaking to see such a devastating hit, financially. Teachers are going to be forced out of our district and find employment where they are valued.”

— Eric Marsoobian, Bargaining Chair, Little Lake Education Association

What’s next

The fact-finding panel will review the issues and provide recommendations, after which the school board has the authority to consider implementing its last, best, and final offer. If an agreement is not reached, the teachers' union would then have the legal right to call for a strike.

The takeaway

This dispute highlights the ongoing challenges facing school districts and teachers' unions as they navigate issues like healthcare costs, budget priorities, and teacher retention. The outcome of these negotiations could have significant implications for the Santa Fe Springs community and the quality of education provided to students.