PITTSBURG — Trustees voted recently to reduce the Pittsburg Unified School District’s budget by about $16 million, but without eliminating some key positions.
Prior to its approval, the district had proposed $16.7 million in budget cuts, which would have resulted in more than 15 employee dismissals and a reduction in non-personnel activities.
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During a Feb. 26 meeting, the district’s board of trustees unanimously approved reductions of $8.3 million for the 2025-26 school year and $7.81 million for 2026-27. Despite the cutbacks, trustees were able to retain four elementary vice principals, two teachers on special assignment, two elementary art teachers, two parent and family liaisons, and one custodian.
Pittsburg Unified School District Superintendent Janet Schulze said budget reductions were necessary, primarily due to the expiration of one-time COVID-19 relief funds and a decline in school attendance.
She explained that the one-time funds received helped maintain some positions that were set to be reduced in 2020, such as elementary counselors, certified behavioral support specialists, and teachers on special assignment.
“The other main reason is that our average daily attendance has not come back to where it was pre-pandemic. Our state chooses to fund us based on average daily attendance,” said Schulze. “What that means is that if we have 100 students, and 90 of them, on average, come every day, the state funds us for 90 even though we serve all 100. That is a choice our state makes.”
Due to this state funding mechanism, Schulze said the district will lose about $9 million over the next three years.
During public comment at the Feb. 26 meeting, over 30 teachers and parents voiced concerns about how the cuts would affect students and staff in the district.
Los Medanos Elementary School Principal Milly Estrada said she was deeply concerned staff cuts would impact students, especially vulnerable groups. She said vice principals ensure students with disabilities receive critical services, and without full-time oversight, they may miss special accommodations, experience delays, or fall through the cracks.
“They coordinate behavioral and academic supports, ensuring students thrive in general education settings. The reduction in availability means delay in interventions in moments of crisis, which happen very often at schools,” said Estrada. “Vice principals step in to support students and stuff, cutting the role in half means cutting students’ support in half.”
Parent Anna Villalobos stressed the importance of the liaison positions.
“The liaisons are the glue that keeps students, school employees and parents together. They are vital,” said Villalobos.
Another speaker identified as Julie said necessary budget cuts should start at the top.
“I am an advocate of financial frugality and oversight. I’m just saying that budget reductions should happen first from the top-down, where salaries are disproportionate to the certified and classified positions that are being considered for cuts,” she said. “Nothing personal, but the disproportion between management and certified salaries is striking.”
California School Employees Association Chapter 44 Treasurer Juanita Gwin said custodians are essential employees.
“Who are you going to call when something breaks or goes wrong? The custodians are there to support our schools and make sure all of our bathrooms have running water and everything we need in case something breaks,” said Gwin.
Trustee President Heliodoro Moreno said some staff reductions will hurt students and parents. But, as a parent of three daughters in the district, Moreno understands the importance of academic support.
“It’s a very difficult decision, but we’re going to have to make these cuts, and just to remind everyone, we have to make another $3.5 million cut (next year), at least, assuming that our average daily attendance goes up,” said Moreno.
Trustee De’Shawn Woolridge, who is also a vice principal, said it is difficult to reduce positions like his due to the amount of work they do.
“I’ve heard people say they can split the duties amongst other people. You can’t split disciplining, because the only person who can do it legally is the principal. You can’t split staying back covering late night events because you have to pay that person overtime,” said Woolridge. “The vice principal is designed to (be that person), not everybody can do that.”