Hundreds of layoffs on the line as Pasadena school board votes on fiscal plan

Nearly 200 Pasadena Unified School District staff will learn if they’ll still have their jobs next school year, as the Board of Education votes on finalizing a fiscal stabilization plan and sending out layoff notices at its Thursday, March 14 special meeting.

Facing the loss of one-time COVID funding, declining enrollment, and a $38 billion state budget shortfall, the Los Angeles County Office of Education called on the district to implement an aggressive plan to reduce costs last year.

Should the board approve the layoffs, 90 full-time equivalent certified employees and 93 classified employees won’t return for the 2024-25 school year, effective June 30, as part of that plan. The move is expected to save $9 million in one-time costs in just the next school year.

The district last month approved two resolutions paving the groundwork for sending preliminary notices to affected employees by the state’s deadline for Reduction in Force notifications.

At that meeting, some board members expressed frustration about the uncertainty and ongoing changes to the budget situation, as exemplified by last minute revisions which nearly doubled the amount of positions to be cut.

Since then, the district has worked to draw as many positions out of the list as possible. Those resolutions, which listed 224 total employees that would be affected, would be replaced should the board approve the move Thursday.

“As we move through the budget development process for 2024-2025 and the next three years, we are continuing to take measures to reduce the impact on students and staff,” Interim Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco said in an email update. “I will continue to keep you informed as we progress through budget development.”

The cuts include 22 teachers on special assignment positions, 16 elementary education positions, 11 middle school teaching positions, and 8 psychologist positions.

Public commenters at the board’s last meeting pointed out that the proposed cuts are disproportionately coming from special education, career and technical education, and social emotional learning services — all areas they say the district should be investing in the most.

“While we do acknowledge that PUSD enrollment is declining, our special education referrals and needs have stayed relatively the same,” Rena Reyes said. “Additionally, the absence of tier one and tier two mental health and academic support is likely to lead to a rise in referrals.”

Others contended that these same areas are actually adding to the district’s enrollment, which would ultimately hurt their bottom line in the long run.

“I just really urge you to consider where we’re cutting and not cutting the future,” PUSD CTE teacher Andrew Silk said. “When you cut things like academies that are a big draw you’re cutting enrollment and last time I checked enrollment is the number one thing that’s actually the cause of this.”

The PUSD open session meeting is at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Elbie J. Hickambottom Board Room (Room 236) at the PUSD Education Center, 351 South Hudson Ave.