Martinez USD outlines $2.3M in potential 2025–26 reductions; board resists cut to college and career specialist

Martinez Unified officials presented a package of proposed budget reductions Monday intended to address a projected structural shortfall next year, but the board stopped short of approving specific layoffs and directed staff to preserve at least one position that drew substantial public support: Alhambra High’s college and career specialist.

Assistant Superintendent Andrew (Andy) Cannon told trustees the district faces revenue pressures from declining funded average daily attendance, a smaller-than‑expected cost‑of‑living adjustment in the governor’s budget and the sunset of one‑time COVID/learning‑recovery funds. Staff showed a preliminary 25‑26 cuts list that combined non‑staff reductions and potential personnel reductions totaling roughly $2.3 million, including materials and supplies, contracted special education services, classified and certificated positions and a small set of vacant or partially funded roles.

The draft non‑staff reductions included about $1.15 million in cuts to materials, supplies and contracts. Classified reductions under consideration included program specialists, a groundskeeper/custodian (a daytime floating position hired with CARES funds), and partial office manager time. Proposed certificated reductions included two elementary teacher FTEs (expected to be handled through attrition), some special education contractor positions and partial reductions in counseling and teacher on assignment time.

The potential cuts triggered an immediate public response focused on the college and career specialist, Janice Collins at Alhambra High. More than two dozen students, parents and representatives from Diablo Valley College and the Martinez Education Foundation spoke in favor of keeping the position full time, saying Collins runs dual‑enrollment, financial aid and individualized counseling programs that many students — particularly low‑income and first‑generation college applicants — rely on.

“Reducing these hours would put the students at Alhambra at a severe disadvantage,” parent Jerry Tomtanya said, describing Collins’ unpaid extra hours and dual‑enrollment work. Student speakers said the college and career office is a safe place that helps with essays, course selection, community college enrollment and scholarship forms; many noted the cost of private college consultants and argued the district role levels the field.

Board members said they had received numerous emails and calls backing Collins. Trustees pressed staff on alternatives and asked whether positions had been restored previously with outside grants; staff confirmed several roles had been funded temporarily in prior years and warned that one‑time funding cannot be relied on indefinitely. Trustees also sought more precise estimates for how proposed staffing changes would affect the classroom and asked about the custodial floating position’s scope.

After extended public comment and internal discussion, trustees directed staff to remove the college and career specialist cut from the proposed list and to return with alternative options for other reductions. The board also emphasized that counseling and mental‑health services are a district priority but said preservation will require tradeoffs. Staff said they will rework the reduction list, prioritize positions for potential restoration should state revenue change in May, and return with a revised proposal at the board’s next meeting on Feb. 10.

No personnel reductions were finalized Monday; staff described the presentation as an informational step required by the budget calendar. Cannon told the board the package as presented would not, by itself, restore long‑term fiscal stability but would buy time for the district to pursue state‑level changes and to seek one‑time or ongoing revenue. The board set a timetable to act on reductions at its Feb. 10 meeting so that staffing notices and legal timelines can be met if cuts are required.