Palo Alto Unified Faculty District faces attainable layoffs amid $33M finances lower

A northern California college district is going through $33 million in finances cuts for the following college yr, which might result in important layoffs. 

Palo Alto Unified Faculty District’s new superintendent, Jason Glass, says determining learn how to shut the district’s finances hole would be the college board’s most necessary process over the following two years — and he expects the method to be painful.

It comes as different college districts within the state wrestle financially as nicely: The Sacramento Metropolis Unified Faculty District can also be scrambling to keep away from a state takeover after county schooling officers just lately rejected its monetary rescue plan.

As for Palo Alto, Glass mentioned he expects finger-pointing, private assaults and arguments that the district is bloated or might resolve its monetary issues just by spending much less on issues equivalent to paper, lightbulbs and duplicate machines, in response to the Palo Alto Day by day Put up.

However the deficit is just too giant for these sorts of financial savings to make up the distinction, Glass mentioned, that means the board must think about eliminating applications, companies and jobs which are in any other case thought of precious.

“We’re going to have to fireplace individuals,” board member Shounak Dharap mentioned throughout an Aug. 18 assembly, in response to the Day by day Put up.

“These conversations are going to make individuals scared and indignant. We’ve to have them in any case,” Glass mentioned.

The district will first attempt to restrict layoffs by leaving vacant positions unfilled and shifting current staff into different jobs, Glass mentioned. The cuts have already reached the district workplace, the place Glass has determined to not fill some administrative positions.

Board member Shana Segal mentioned she desires the board to debate making one other try and renew the district’s parcel tax by a particular election subsequent spring. The proposed renewal fell brief within the June 2 election.

A good portion of the district’s projected deficit stems from just lately accepted labor agreements that gave staff a ten.4% increase and $10,000 in bonuses, in response to the Day by day Put up.

Dharap mentioned the board had needed to keep away from the potential for a strike as a brand new superintendent took over the district, however the agreements have now left Glass within the “unenviable place” of getting to advocate cuts.

Former board member Ken Dauber criticized the board for approving what he known as “unaffordable and excessively beneficiant” labor contracts.

“The board has created a monetary disaster totally of its personal making,” Dauber mentioned at Tuesday’s assembly. “It is a disastrous consequence that was totally foreseeable … and sadly now the neighborhood goes to should pay that consequence.”

The district faces a March 15 deadline to subject layoff notices, Chief Enterprise Officer Charen Yu mentioned.

And the monetary strain is anticipated to proceed. Yu mentioned the board is taking a look at one other $10 million in reductions for the 2028–29 college yr.

One of many greatest variables will probably be property tax income, an particularly necessary supply of funding for Palo Alto Unified.

The district expects to get up to date property tax projections from the Santa Clara County Assessor’s Workplace in early September, in response to Yu.

---

Obtain The California Put up App, comply with us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters