ABC Unified trustees confront $4.1M shortfall as board debates cuts to counselors, TOSAs and PD

ABC Unified presented a required budget-reduction plan on May 6 detailing options to close a structural shortfall identified by the county: at minimum $4.1 million for the current year, driven by declining enrollment and higher health-benefit costs.

At the meeting, budget presenter Mr. Nuin told trustees the district faced roughly $8–9 million in lost LCFF revenue tied to enrollment drops and that the county expects a plan that meets reserve and multi-year requirements. "We have to have a plan to reduce the expenditures by $4.1 million at a minimum," Mr. Nuin said.

Staff offered nine draft options that together would produce about $5.9 million in potential savings. Proposals included a 20% cut to district department budgets ($~300,000), a 50% cut to base travel and conference spending ($~200,000), a hiring freeze for nonessential classified positions, reductions to consultant contracts and professional development (each proposed for roughly $500,000), a one-year pause on some deferred-maintenance contributions and a temporary suspension of a set-aside for postemployment health benefits. The plan also listed reducing about 10 management positions and about 10 TOSA (teacher on special assignment) positions — steps staff called targeted but necessary.

Trustees sharply questioned the plan’s impact on student services. Dr. Rios and others argued that deans, EL counselors and mental-health professionals are essential for post-pandemic student needs. "I will object to item three," Dr. Rios said, referencing the proposal to reduce management roles, and several trustees asked staff to remove or rework those proposed cuts.

Other board members and the district superintendent said the recommendation aimed to minimize classroom disruption by prioritizing non-classroom cuts and one-time funding reductions. "These are difficult choices, and the goal is the least impact on students," Superintendent Dr. Zitlo said during the discussion.

The teachers’ union and district union leaders also weighed in. Ray Garren, president of the ABC Federation of Teachers, urged the board to act now and bank savings where possible to avoid more painful cuts later. He said earlier federal and state one-time funds had enabled the district to add positions but that those investments are not always sustainable.

Next steps and deadlines: staff said the county requires an adopted budget that meets multi-year reserve tests; preliminary budget materials will return to the board at the June 3 meeting with final adoption slated for mid-June. Trustees asked for more granular site-level impacts and alternatives that would preserve counselors and school-site supports while achieving the mandated reduction.

What remains unresolved: the district has not yet finalized which specific positions or schools would absorb cuts, and trustees left the meeting divided on whether to protect school-site management and mental-health staff or pursue deeper reductions in professional development, travel and consultant contracts.