The Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education approved a fiscal stabilization plan and second interim budget that will include eliminating nearly 200 positions as the district looks to “rightsize” amid enrollment declines and financial constraints.
The board approved the moves at their Thursday, March 14 special meeting, during which officials laid out the need to redesign and reduce district services over the next several years.
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 over the next three years.
Though a sizable piece of the rightsizing plan centers around the projected 183 cuts in certificated and classified staff — accounting for $9 million in one-time savings next year —- many of the positions were vacant.
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According to Chief Human Resources Officer Sergio Canal, only around 50 employees will be receiving notices that their positions may be cut due to vacancies and reassignments, with the final decision coming in May.
The cuts — in total 90 full-time equivalent certificated and 93 classified employees — include 22 teachers on special assignment positions, 16 elementary education positions, 11 middle school teaching positions, and eight psychologist positions. Departments from special education to maintenance and operations will be redesigned in light of the changes, with the district planning to look at staffing ratios.
Interim Chief Business Officer Kingsley Udo pointed out that the cuts are coming after spending increases during the pandemic, making staffing still higher than prior years in context.
The rightsizing will focus on providing core programs, services and resources that all students receive as the district seeks to shore up more than $20 million in shortfall.
The district will conduct a program efficiency study, convene a budget advisory council and redesign programs as part of the plan’s next steps.
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