Sacramento City Unified board approves preschool staffing reductions, shifts LDV to 10-month schedule
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Summary
The Sacramento City Unified School District board approved a resolution to reduce preschool positions, close two low‑enrollment site programs and convert the Leonardo da Vinci Children’s Center from a 12‑month to a 10‑month schedule; families urged the board to preserve services during a lengthy public comment period.
The Sacramento City Unified School District board voted to approve a resolution to reduce preschool staffing and program capacity, including the proposed closure of the Matsuyama and Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) preschool programs and converting the Leonardo da Vinci (LDV) Children’s Center from a 12‑month to a 10‑month schedule.
Staff framed the changes as part of an operational plan to align program expenditures with projected revenue. "The recommendation represents the scenario with the smallest projected negative balance and minimal closures," interim chief academic officer Erin Findlay said, explaining that one‑time early learning and care grant stipend funds would be used only as a temporary bridge while programs are restructured.
Why it matters: Board members and staff said the reductions are intended to right‑size capacity to current enrollment and available grant funding while preserving preschool services where possible. Parents and students told the board the proposed changes would disrupt care for working families and harm children’s continuity of services.
What staff recommended and why: Assistant Superintendent for Early Learning and Care Macako Fisher Hill told the board that staff analyzed enrollment, cost recovery and long‑term sustainability across programs. She said the district recommends consolidating programs rather than eliminating preschool overall, but recommended closure of Matsuyama and MLK because of low enrollment and revenue declines tied directly to attendance. "The funds that come in from the state would not fund MLK," Fisher Hill said, describing how changes to reimbursement after COVID and classroom location shifts had increased operational costs.
The presentation also recommended reducing preschool capacity from 34 classrooms to 28 (maintaining 25 preschool classrooms and three toddler classrooms), which staff said would reduce the program’s structural funding gap. The slide deck and Exhibit A provided a detailed list of impacted positions and coordinator roles designated for reduction.
Public reaction: More than a dozen parents, guardians and students spoke during public comment, urging the board to preserve LDV and other site programs. "I love my teachers and I know they love me," said Leila Dahl, a student who described LDV as "our home away from home." Parents described LDV as essential for working families, helping children with academics and social‑emotional growth; several speakers asked the board to consider hours reductions or other adjustments that would avoid layoffs.
Board questions and implementation concerns: Board members pressed staff on alternatives and capacity planning for ACES before‑ and after‑school programs. Member Kayatta sought confirmation of the LDV approach; staff confirmed the recommendation is to keep LDV at current capacity but move to a 10‑month calendar. Staff also said they would explore whether ELOP funds could be used more broadly for before/after preschool services and coordinate with Manpreet Kaur’s department and community‑based organizations to expand capacity where possible.
Vote and next steps: Member Benjamin moved the resolution; Member Navarro seconded. The clerk recorded roll‑call votes of "aye" from Member Jean, Member Gallata, Member Benjamin, Member Navarro, Member Rhodes and Member Singh. The motion was recorded as approved. The board directed staff to implement the recommended transitions and to return with follow‑up information as needed; staff noted the standard next steps in the layoff process and that Exhibit A lists the minimum staffing adjustments required to align expenditures and revenue.
The board and staff thanked families and district personnel for their engagement as the district moves to implement the restructuring. The district materials referenced budget projections for the "2627" school year in the slide deck and noted the process steps for layoff notices and transitions; Exhibit A was presented for the board’s approval.
