Santa Rosa board approves final layoffs, rescinds some notices after MOU changes

The Santa Rosa City Schools Board of Education voted May 14 to issue final layoff notices affecting certificated and classified staff for the 2025–26 school year while also approving job-description changes and selective rescissions after negotiations with the California School Employees Association (CSEA) chapter 75.

Acting Superintendent Lisa August and district HR staff presented final lists and fiscal estimates. HR director Dr. Vicki Zanz told the board the certificated reductions as presented would yield about $8,914,965.51 in salary-and-benefit savings and $2,148,550.98 in certificated administration savings, for a combined reduction of $11,063,516.49. The classified reductions totalled 93.07 FTE with estimated savings of $7,421,600.98; a separate set of seven classified supervisory eliminations was listed at $1,039,032.94.

Those figures do not fully reflect attrition, resignations and retirements that reduced the number of names that ultimately required layoff notices. Dr. Zanz described the statutory timeline the district must follow, and she said the district used current preenrollment to calculate counselor allocations.

Why it matters: Board members and union leaders framed the votes as difficult but necessary steps to stabilize district finances. At the same time staff and union representatives pressed the board to limit layoffs, preserve key student supports and keep affected employees involved in planning for transitions.

What the board approved and rescinded - The board approved the district's final certificated reductions (resolution number 2024/25-112) after discussion and a roll-call vote; trustees voted to accept the recommendation. - The board approved the final classified reduction (resolution number 2024/25-113) and then approved an MOU and job-description package (CSEA 24/25 No. 9) that allowed rescinding notices for the eight most senior restorative specialists and three clerk/typist positions reclassified as special-education technicians.

Union response and staff concerns Mary Lehman, president of CSEA Chapter 75, urged the board to approve the MOU and to include classified staff in planning for school consolidations. "That will be 13 lives changed, 13 families with a bit more peace of mind," she said during her report to the board.

Santa Rosa Teachers Association representatives and site staff also addressed the board during public comment and in reports, pressing for more involvement in decisions and expressing concern about the human consequences of staffing reductions.

Board discussion and process details Trustees and district leaders emphasized that the reductions were made under state law processes that use seniority and categorical formulas rather than merit. Trustee questions focused on counselor ratios (the district used a 400-to-1 standard k'12 for counselors) and the district's ability to rehire employees. Dr. Zanz stated rehiring eligibility periods as 39 months for permanent classified employees and 39 months (per certificated rules described) with probationary employees having shorter priority periods.

District staff noted the board had used targeted LCAP funding to restore some counselor positions and to fund MTSS and college/career counseling positions, which reduced the number of layoff notices that needed to be sustained.

Closing context Trustees acknowledged the difficulty of issuing notices and repeatedly said the decisions were not made lightly. Trustee comments and union testimony framed the votes as necessary to reach the district's budget targets while highlighting ongoing concern about losing experienced educators and support staff. The board voted to approve the reduction resolutions and the associated MOU/job-description items; the district will notify affected employees and continue rescission and rehiring actions where possible.