Fresno Unified Will Deliver Final Layoff Notices to Employees

The Fresno Unified School Board has taken the next step to finalize district wide layoffs, eliminating hundreds of full-time equivalent positions to survive an ever-growing budget deficit.

The district has struggled in recent years to balance its budget amidst declining student enrollment and lower average daily attendance. Fresno Unified has lost about $15 million annually due to the declines.

It now faces an $88 million budget deficit, a figure that ballooned from a previously predicted $77 million shortfall.

During a special meeting Monday, trustees approved on a 6-0 vote — trustee Keshia Thomas did not attend the meeting — the delivery of final layoff notices to 196 classified employees. These cuts include 15 custodians, 25 campus safety assistants, and 42 Spanish home/school liaisons.

However, the district does not anticipate full employment separation due to vacancies, retirements, and “bumping,” according to board documents.

Additionally, trustees approved the reduction of 78 certified employees, including 19 preschool teachers, 22 school counselors, nine vice principals, and seven nurses.

The district also is eliminating 183 retirement and vacant positions.

The cuts will generate $60 million in savings. However, only $39.8 million will be actual reductions, district CFO Patrick Jensen previously told GV Wire. The remainder of the savings will be directed to other initiatives supporting students.

Yet to be determined is how much additional funding Fresno Unified, as well as other districts, might receive after the state budget is approved. EdSource reported Tuesday that California’s schools and community colleges could receive billions in additional funding because of the state’s improved budget outlook.

Related Story: Fresno Unified Announces Layoffs Saving $60 Million. FTA Pushes Back

Fresno Unified Layoff Timeline

In February, district layoffs became the center of attention after trustees approved the potential elimination of 274 positions — 84 certificated and 190 classified. Additionally, 49 classified positions were added to the chopping block in early March.

The motions allowed Fresno Unified to send 204 preliminary notices to classified employees.

Related Story: Community Assails Fresno Unified Trustees Over Proposed Layoffs

Some notices were “precautionary” in nature, according to district documents. And not all employees who got prior notice will receive a final notice of position elimination, board documents state.

The preliminary notice offered employees a chance to file for an evidentiary hearing, challenging the reduction. Originally, 19 employees filed for a hearing, but only six appeared.

Veronica Reyes, an attendance liaison at Tenaya Middle School, gave a presentation on the importance of her work. She contacts the homes of students with excessive absences and works with them to improve their attendance.

Reyes stated her work has helped increase school attendance by 4% since last year, according to board documents.

“She stated that if positions like hers are eliminated or reduced, the district will continue to experience decreased attendance, which could result in continued budget cuts,” documents state.

Another employee, assistant campus safety officer Yndalecio Gonzales said that eliminating positions like his will make schools less safe. He provided several letters from district parents to show he was a valued member of his school, according to documents.

In opposition, the district highlighted its massive budget deficit, saying it can’t maintain current staffing levels.

The judge sided with the district, allowing final notices to be sent to the employees.

Affected Employees Can Stay with the District

Affected employees have the opportunity to stay with the district in different positions.

“Due to current vacancies, retirements and separations, and the bumping rights of the affected employees, the district does not anticipate full employment separation for any of the affected 204 employees,” documents state.

The district will give employees who previously worked in another classification the opportunity to “bump” any employee with lower seniority in that position. In turn, that employee will be able to slide into another position.

The district is committed to finding a position for each employee, said Annarita Howell, the district assistant superintendent of human resources and labor relations.

However, some employees may need to relocate to a different work site or accept a position at a reduced pay rate, documents stated. [hubspot type=form portal=8576119 id=35dc4f87-3d6f-45ee-85d8-25a474f7a3d

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