Chula Vista board approves notices for teacher reductions and certifies second interim budget amid deficit

The Chula Vista Elementary School District board voted to issue layoff notices for certain certificated positions and to certify its second interim financial report after a lengthy public hearing and staff presentation.

Superintendent and cabinet officials told the board the personnel recommendations reflect enrollment declines and budget realities. Doctor Rosendale said the item reflects mandated timelines and that the 41 full‑time equivalent positions shown represent 32 individuals as of the meeting because resignations and retirements continue to reduce the total. "As we receive resignations and retirements, we will rescind notices and reinstate positions as appropriate," Rosendale said.

Parents, teachers and school staff urged the board to protect particular schools and classroom stability. Brandy Harkine, a resource teacher and coach at Harborside Elementary, described measurable gains at her school and warned that removing experienced teachers would reverse progress: "Removing teachers from Harborside right now is not a neutral action...It is a setback, and it's a preventable one."

The board discussed options for reducing classroom impacts and emphasized that the reductions follow negotiated seniority and contractual processes. Trustee Tamayo said administrators are monitoring where resignations will allow rescissions and asked staff to keep the board informed so positions can be restored when possible.

On the budget front, the district's independent auditor and finance staff presented the second interim for fiscal year 2025–26 showing combined revenues of roughly $438 million and expenditures of roughly $465 million, producing a combined multi‑year deficit of about $26.7 million and an unrestricted deficit of about $20.7 million. Chief financial officer Mr. Pong said the district is using $22.3 million in budget stabilization reserves as part of the multi‑year balancing strategy and will pursue state guidance in the May Revision.

The board approved the certificated reduction item and certified the second interim budget in separate recorded votes. Officials said the number of impacted individuals is likely to decline as resignations, retirements and other staffing changes are processed.

Next steps: staff will continue enrollment projections and notify affected employees; the district will monitor the May Revision and pursue attendance recovery and program appeals when eligible.