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La Canada Unified approves staff reductions, adopts second interim as district trims budget
Summary
The La Canada Unified School District governing board approved resolutions to notify some certificated and classified employees of potential reductions, adopted criteria for reemployment order and certified the district's second interim financial report as administrators said cuts were needed to address a projected deficit.
La Canada Unified School District's Governing Board on Feb. 25 approved a set of personnel reductions and certified its second interim financial report after administrators said the district must cut spending to meet county fiscal requirements.
The board adopted resolutions to notify affected certificated staff totaling 1.8 full-time equivalents (FTE) and classified staff reductions totaling 6.25 FTE. Administrators said the certificated reductions are projected to save about $282,000 and the classified reductions about $362,000; additional savings of roughly $720,000 are expected from attrition and other efficiencies, the district said. Trustees also approved a resolution establishing the order of reemployment if positions are restored.
The actions follow a district Sunday brunch-and-learn and budget presentations in which staff outlined a multiyear gap driven by slower revenue growth, rising special-education and utility costs and projected pension increases. Superintendent Wendy Sinek presented the second interim showing a larger deficit at midyear and a multiyear plan intended to stop structural deficit spending. "We are looking at staffing reductions and eliminations that have become necessary," said the staff presenter explaining the resolution details. Dr. Craddock (Staff member) summarized required notification deadlines under state law and the parts of the Education Code that authorize reductions.
Why it matters: The district must certify finances to the Los Angeles County Office of Education. Administrators said the steps are intended to stabilize reserves and bring the budget to a "positive" certification level for the next two fiscal years. Those measures will also affect class size and program delivery at the elementary level, staff said.
Board and public discussion included questions about how the numbers were calculated. District resident David Haxton asked for clarity on how listed reductions map to the larger savings figures, saying, "I don't understand the math where by saving $282,000 you're going to save $982,000." Administrators responded that the listed reductions are the formal notices required by law and that larger savings come from attrition and other planned changes.
The board voted to adopt: (1) Resolution 13-24-25 to decrease certificated employees due to reduction or elimination of services; (2) Resolution 14-24-25 establishing criteria for the order of reemployment; (3) Resolution 15-24-25 to reduce or eliminate classified positions; and (4) certification of the second interim financial report. Members approved each motion by voice vote; no roll-call tallies were read into the record.
District staff said several assumptions will determine whether the cuts are sufficient, including pupil attendance (average daily attendance), the final state cost-of-living adjustment in the May Revise, and potential state or federal funds related to wildfire recovery. The superintendent said the district plans to file a J-13A waiver related to wildfire impacts to attendance, which could affect LCFF funding.
Next steps: Notices required by state law were to be provided by March 15 for those positions listed on the resolutions. The district will return to the board with estimated actuals in June and monitor the May Revise for changes in COLA or other funding.
