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Parents, staff and students urge Poway Unified board to rescind layoff notices for student‑facing roles
Summary
Dozens of employees, parents and students told the board that proposed eliminations of student services assistants, English‑learner instructional assistants and education specialists would harm student mental‑health supports and special‑education services; board approved the required notices but acknowledged community concern and pledged continued review.
Dozens of Poway Unified staff, parents and students used tonight’s meeting to urge the board to reconsider proposed layoffs and reductions the district listed as part of its plan to close a multi‑million‑dollar gap.
Multiple speakers described day‑to‑day responsibilities they said cannot be absorbed easily if positions are cut. Beth Wells, a student services assistant of 18 years, told trustees that the role delivers social‑emotional lessons, small‑group support, playground supervision and calls for help that often lead to counseling interventions. “Cutting the student services assistant position would have a minimal economic impact on the budget but a large impact on student wellness,” Wells said.
Parents and classroom aides emphasized the role of instructional assistants for English learners and special education office assistants as bridges to families and essential to complying with IEP timelines; a parent with a child in a Poway preschool program said intensive early supports produced measurable gains. Special education advocate Julie Thorp asked the board not to remove the staff who draft lengthy IEPs and who she called “nothing less than heroes.”
District staff explained why the positions appear on the March layoff resolutions: the pandemic brought significant temporary funding that expanded service staffing levels, but those one‑time funds are expiring and enrollment has declined. Staff said some positions were created to reduce case loads during the pandemic and that the district is attempting to return to pre‑pandemic case‑load norms where legally permissible. Trustees and the superintendent reiterated their goal to protect school‑site services where possible, but said statutory deadlines require issuing notices now to preserve options.
The board voted to approve the required resolutions to notify classified and certificated employees (motions carried 6–0). Trustees said some notices may be rescinded if resignations, retirements or alternative savings are identified before final budget adoption in June. Members asked staff to return with more detailed explanations of how cuts would be redistributed, safety plans, and models for continuing English‑learner supports.
Ending: The board approved the statutory layoff notifications and related procedural resolutions but directed staff to continue searching for non‑personnel savings and to work with unions and site leadership before any final personnel reductions take effect in the coming months.
