Amador Unified board approves reductions in certificated and classified positions, adopts tie‑breaker procedure

The Amador County Unified School district Board of Trustees voted Feb. 19 to approve resolutions to reduce certificated and classified positions, adopt tie‑breaking criteria for any necessary layoffs and implement classified reductions for the 2025–26 school year.

Trustees said the combined actions are intended to reduce ongoing personnel costs as the district addresses multi‑year budget pressures. Interim Superintendent Critchfield told the board that the total savings associated with the certificated and classified reductions are included in a roughly $1.1 million figure presented during the meeting.

The board approved three related items: a resolution of intention to terminate certificated positions for reduction in particular kinds of service (item 14.1); a procedure governing tie breakers if layoffs become necessary (item 14.2); and a resolution reducing classified school services for 2025–26 (item 14.3). The certificated item passed on a roll call vote with five yes votes; the tie‑breaker procedure also passed unanimously. After an initial failed attempt to exclude two superintendent‑office positions from the classified reductions, the full classified‑reduction resolution passed 3–2.

Why it matters: Board members and speakers described the actions as steps to lower long‑term, ongoing costs rather than one‑time savings. Trustee Peter said the moves aim at “ruthless efficiency” in the district office and stressed the reductions are intended to affect future-year obligations rather than immediate classroom staffing. Several trustees said the district remains compliant with administrative‑staffing ratio rules for the current year.

What was debated: Employee‑organization representative Ms. Jensen, speaking for ACTA, urged the board to reconsider the process and expressed concern about timing and fairness. “This kind of maneuvering does not serve our educators, our students, or our community. It erodes trust and raises serious questions about the integrity of decision making at the highest levels,” she said. A public commenter and a classroom teacher also told the board about understaffing at schools and the impact on daily operations; one teacher asked the board to “ensure accountability and take immediate steps to enforce cleaning standards for all classrooms.”

Board staff provided details during discussion: three of the four certificated positions listed in the resolution are currently vacant, district staff said; on the classified side five of nine positions listed are vacant and the district said the approved action directly affects four employees. Trustees and staff discussed a reorganization in the superintendent’s office described as a “minus two, plus one” scenario; trustees asked whether the $1.1 million total included anticipated offsets from creating a combined position. District staff confirmed the $1.1 million figure was calculated with the net change.

Legal and process notes: Interim Superintendent Critchfield told the board that certificated and classified layoffs carry contractual and Education Code obligations, and that employees have reemployment or “bumping” rights depending on credentialing and vacancies. The board also approved a detailed tie‑breaking procedure reviewed by legal counsel in case it is needed.

Votes at a glance: - Item 14.1, resolution of intention to terminate certificated employees: Passed by roll call (5–0). Individual recorded votes: Trustee Peter — yes; Trustee Ken — yes; Trustee Shane — yes; Trustee James — aye; one additional board member recorded as yes. - Item 14.2, determination of tie‑breaking criteria: Passed by roll call (5–0). - Item 14.3, reduction of classified school services for 2025–26: A first motion to approve the classified reductions while excluding two superintendent‑office positions failed (2–3). A subsequent motion to approve the full classified reductions passed on roll call (3–2). Recorded votes on the final motion: Trustee Peter — yes; Trustee Ken — yes; Trustee Shane — no; Trustee James — no; one additional board member — yes.

What comes next: If layoffs are ultimately required, district staff said those actions would not take effect until the end of the school year and rehire or placement into vacancies would be possible if positions reopen and employees are qualified.

Context: Trustees and staff repeatedly emphasized that some of the positions listed are vacant, and that contractual or Education Code protections may allow displaced employees to move into other vacancies if qualified. The district also said it will continue to monitor enrollment and service needs before any permanent staffing changes beyond the actions approved Wednesday.

Ending: Several trustees acknowledged the emotional difficulty of the decisions and said the board will continue work to balance site‑level protections with central‑office restructuring.