No teacher layoffs planned at Piedmont schools, but others likely
PIEDMONT — The Piedmont Unified School District has had to make difficult choices to cut back some employees because of budget shortfalls.
According to reports from the nonprofit group EdSource, cutbacks are an alarming development being experienced by many school districts across the state. Declines in enrollment and the state budget’s timing are two of the reasons.
By law, districts must notify teachers each year by March 15 if they could be laid off by the next school year. Teachers then have a two-month period to contest the possible cuts. Final layoff letters go out by mid-May, which is supposed to give laid-off teachers time to look for work elsewhere.
At the Piedmont Unified School District (PUSD), no teacher layoffs have been proposed this year. However, noncertified (nonteaching) positions targeted for reduction or elimination include the full-time district technology specialist, health coordinator and director of communications. Part-time positions include a library assistant and administrative assistant.
“By the May revise in two weeks we’ll have a lot more information,” PUSD Trustee Cory Smegal said this week. “We’re hoping for good news with the May budget. There are a lot of moving parts. There is no money for a raise for teachers and staff. We had to reduce the footprint. Attrition from retirement will also come into play.”
At the PUSD board’s March 8 meeting, when trustees voted on reductions, Smegal said the budget does not assume any raises for staff and that reversing the proposed cuts is unlikely without an unexpected budget windfall.
“Before we even think about bringing anything back, we have to consider (these factors),” she said.
The Piedmont Education Foundation’s Spring Fling fundraiser may help preserve some of the positions. The PEF has committed $3.3 million to the school district for the current year and $3 million for each of the following years. Ruth Alahydoian, the PUSD’s chief financial officer, said the amount remaining in the district’s general fund at the end of the year is projected to be $1,677,330, of which $853,777 will be restricted.
Alahydoian’s second interim report given to the board included multiyear projections for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school and fiscal years. The state’s cost of living increases for per-pupil funding show 13.26% for this school year, 8.13% for 2023-24 and 3.54% for 2024-25. Estimated enrollment for 2023-24 is 2,340, dropping to 2,300 in 2024-25.
A net increase in expenditures from the first interim budget is $1,383,656. That includes a $101,000 increase in teacher substitute expenses, $241,000 in classified one-time and retroactive salaries, $185,000 for books and supplies and $47,000 in benefit adjustments. In 2022-23, all bargaining units received a 7.5% salary increase and a one-time payment of $1,500.
In all, the district will not meet the mandated 3% reserve in the current fiscal year, and budget adjustments will be needed to meet the reserve requirements in 2023-24 and 2024-25. The board has hence certified the second interim budget as “qualified” in its detailing of the adjustments required for 2023-24 and beyond.
Linda Davis is a longtime Piedmont correspondent. Contact her with news tips or comments at dlinda249@gmail.com.