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Monrovia Unified board adopts resolution cutting 43.62 certificated FTE; layoffs and notices to proceed
Summary
The board adopted a resolution to reduce or discontinue particular kinds of certificated services totaling 43.62 FTE for 2025–26, authorizing layoff notices and reporting earlier closed-session notices of non‑reelection; the vote was 3–2.
The Monrovia Unified School District Board of Education on Feb. 26 adopted a resolution under Education Code sections 44949 and 44955 to reduce or discontinue specified certificated services, citing a prolonged decline in enrollment and fiscal imbalance.
The resolution lists reductions totaling 43.62 full‑time equivalent (FTE) certificated positions across multiple categories, including 14.0 FTE elementary teaching positions, reductions in secondary English and math (several FTEs), cuts to counseling and social‑work services, and reductions in special‑education mild/moderate services. The board also read that corresponding certificated employees would be terminated at the end of the 2024–25 school year pursuant to the cited Education Code provisions; the resolution authorizes staff to begin the legally required layoff and notice processes.
The board discussed the difficulty of the decision. "These are people — colleagues and friends — and this is a tortuous thing to even be considering," Board President Hammond said after the resolution was read; board members noted the district will not receive a finalized state budget until after statutory deadlines, which complicates timing. Earlier in the meeting, the board reported that in closed session it had unanimously voted to issue notices of non‑reelection to several probationary certificated employees and to issue release/non‑reelection notices to temporary certificated employees, effective at the end of 2024–25.
The motion to adopt the reduction resolution passed on a recorded vote with three members in favor and two opposed (vote recorded in the meeting: Okon — yes; Gomez Tagle — no; Lockerby — yes; Travante — yes; Hammond — no). The board’s staff emphasized that the resolution triggers a legally prescribed process (including notice timelines and rights to reemployment where applicable) and that administrative discretion to deviate from strict seniority rules is limited to narrowly defined circumstances described in Education Code section 44955.
What happens next: staff will initiate layoff notices and provide required written notices under the Education Code. Affected employees will receive formal notice and the district will manage bumping, reassignments, and any permitted deviations as described in the resolution.
