District authorizes final layoff notices as budget pressures continue

Pajaro Valley Unified School District trustees on Wednesday voted to authorize issuance of final layoff notices for a reduced group of employees as the district continues to align staffing with available funding.

Human-resources staff told the board the number of certificated positions subject to non‑reemploy notices was reduced to roughly 5.6 full‑time equivalents from a much larger initial proposal, after reassignments and voluntary reductions in hours. "We started this with 8.66 FTE; since that time we've brought back three people and we are down to 5.6," said HR staff during the presentation (report by HR leadership).

The board adopted final actions on both certificated and classified reductions and voted to send out layoff notices as required by law. Classified staff reductions and voluntary hour reductions were also approved by the board during the meeting.

Union representatives with the teachers’ union (PVFT) and others spoke earlier in the meeting urging the board to rescind layoffs, calling them harmful for students and hard on staff. "These layoffs impact our entire unit and our entire student population," the PVFT president said during remarks in the employee‑organization section.

Administrators noted some of the layoffs may be avoided through resignations and vacancy management. "Our hope is that by the next few weeks we will have most of these people brought back based on resignations and internal movement," a district HR presenter said (HR update, SEG 6650–6668).

What happens next: the district will distribute final layoff notices in accordance with statutory timelines and continue negotiations with employee representatives. The board asked staff to return with further staffing and budget updates and noted implementation will include reassignments where possible.

Sources: HR presentations during the May 7 board meeting; public remarks by union representatives and staff.