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Pajaro Valley Unified board rejects proposed staff‑reduction package after hours of public comment
Summary
After more than three hours of public testimony from teachers, students and unions, the Pajaro Valley Unified Board voted down a proposed package of classified and certificated position reductions aimed at addressing a structural budget gap tied to declining enrollment and expiring one‑time funds. Trustees said they will pursue alternatives and further analysis.
The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees rejected a staff‑reduction resolution on Feb. 12 after an evening dominated by public comment from teachers, students, classified employees and union leaders.
District staff told the board the reductions were driven by a projected structural shortfall tied to the winding down of one‑time COVID era funds and a long‑term enrollment decline. Chief Business Officer Jenny M. told trustees the district’s general fund is roughly $380 million, monthly payroll runs about $24 million and, at current projections, unrestricted spending could run an annual deficit of about $12 million in coming years unless the budget is aligned to enrollment.
Pam Shanks, director of classified personnel, presented Resolution 24257, a list of classified positions recommended to be discontinued on June 30, 2025, including instructional assistant hours and several district office roles. Brian Saxon, director of certificated human resources, presented a companion certificated reduction resolution (Resolution 24256) meant to align teacher staffing with lower projected student counts and routine annual staffing adjustments.
Speakers filled the boardroom. Dozens urged the board to protect classroom supports they said are essential to students: arts and visual‑performing arts classes (VAPA), instructional aides, mental‑health clinicians and intervention teachers. David Lambert and Robbie Herrera, the district’s two communications technicians, said workload data showed no lack of work and warned that eliminating a position would leave a single technician responsible for districtwide systems. Teachers and students told the board that cutting VAPA or eliminating a seven‑period option at high schools would reduce opportunities that drive student engagement.
Union leaders and employee organizations from PVFT and CCA urged the board to seek alternatives to layoffs. PVFT outgoing president Nelly Viera and others criticized the speed of the process and urged trustees to use creative solutions — such as targeted facility changes or retirement incentives — rather than immediate staff cuts.
Trustees debated alternatives and procedural options. Trustee Daniel Dodge Jr. moved a procedural motion during the discussion; the transcript records an early roll call that shifted the board’s path and elicited vigorous debate. When the board later moved to a final roll‑call vote on the full resolution package, the motion to approve the reductions failed on a 3‑4 roll call, as recorded in the meeting transcript.
Following the vote trustees said they would continue working with cabinet and labor partners to identify options that reduce cost while limiting direct classroom impacts. Jenny M. told the board she and cabinet would pursue additional steps — including retirement incentives the board approved later in the meeting — and continue a review of district office staffing, facilities and other non‑classroom costs.
What’s next: trustees asked staff for more detail on alternatives discussed publicly — including possible leases or sales of underused district facilities, early‑retirement incentives and other structural changes — and signaled the reductions would be revisited if new numbers or alternatives emerge. The board also directed staff to continue meeting with labor partners and community stakeholders.
