The Coronado Unified School District governing board has begun preparing to notify district employees that their jobs may be terminated due to budget cuts.
A handful of positions and services are at risk, according to the more than six full-time positions and services outlined by the district, but only a fraction of total number of employees, 2%, of the district’s 400 employees are to receive notifications.
In fact, six full-time employees and an additional two part-time employees are at risk.
During a special meeting on Monday, March 4, district staff discussed approval of four resolutions to adjust for what they’ve identified as a $2.3 million deficit in the upcoming 2024-25 academic school year.
Three resolutions passed. They call for decreases in the numbers of teachers and classified employees, and a reduction or elimination of some services.
Meanwhile, a resolution regarding establishment of criteria for layoffs and reemployment was tabled.
Last month, Deputy Superintendent Donnie Salamanca updated the board about new information received from the governor’s office regarding the proposed 2024-2025 budget.
“That has prompted the need to look at our spending profile and also our staffing to see if we might be able to achieve some savings,” Salamanca said.
The school district, with more than 2,700 students, currently operates on a $44 million budget, according to Superintendent Karl Mueller during his State of the District presentation in February.
In an online document about the cutbacks, made available to those in attendance, district officials said the resolutions will provide district staff time to meet a statutory requirement to deliver notices to each employee prior to a March 15 deadline.
The California School Boards Association news page says the March 15 notice is a formal, written announcement from a school district to employees informing them that they may be released for the following school year beginning July 1.
“This is a preliminary notification with additional notifications coming in May either to say we’re going to move forward with this action or we’re going to go ahead and recall the preliminary notice that was issued in March,” Salamanca said.
Earlier that day, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that San Diego Unified School District and other districts were also “in the midst of cutting positions, including” Lakeside Union, Mountain Empire Unified and Chula Vista Elementary.
Resolutions passed, further discussion
District officials blamed the financial shortfall and potential layoffs on termination of one-time COVID funding, a decrease in state revenues and declining student enrollment.
“This is a result of us having to prepare for potential reductions in work layoffs as a result of our budget,” said Mueller.
The reduction in services and employment targets a total of 6.53 full-time equivalent (FTE) in the decreased number of employees.
According to the CUSD Public Information Officer Maria Simon the district has about 400 employees, or a full-time equivalent of 350.
The proposed cutbacks would affect Coronado schools’ mental health counseling, subject language, program specialists, and maintenance.
Earlier this year, California Teachers Association (CTA) President David B. Goldberg issued a written statement following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed 2024-2025 state budget.
“Layoffs are devastating and chaotic for educators, students, and communities,” Goldberg said on Jan. 10, 2024. “The budget shortfall this year, and the potential for cuts or freezes to vital services that people depend on, highlight the need for long-term, consistent investment in all public services, including public schools. California is the fifth largest economy in the world, and our students deserve nothing less than an education system that reflects that economic strength.”
Earlier in the meeting, Trustee Whitney Antrim said layoff and service cutbacks could impact students in the district who benefit from mental health resources.
“I can’t help but notice how much these would affect our students, their academic performance and their overall well-being to lose three full-time mental health professionals,” Antrim said. “I really hope we can do everything we can to not have to go through with these layoffs.”
Following the school board meeting, Trustee Renee Cavanaugh shared some of her insight as a retired CUSD teacher.
“For the staff, it brings a level of uncertainty that we regret,” Cavanaugh said. “Sometimes pink slips have gone out and they haven’t been able to rescind them. But I know in the past changes with the budget happened and they were able to do that. So I think every possibility is out there.”
The district encouraged the community to attend a budget study committee meeting on March 6, for an update on the district’s budget from 3:45 p.m.-5 p.m. in the boardroom.
The district is also scheduled to have a Community Partners Workshop during a separate special board meeting this month on March 26.
The next regular board meeting is set for 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 14 at the district office.
