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Benicia Unified finalizes layoff resolutions amid uncertain state funding; trustees ask for prioritization plan
Summary
The board approved final layoff resolutions for classified and certificated staff citing lack of work or funds, and trustees asked staff to develop a prioritized reinstatement plan to act on if state or enrollment conditions change.
The Benicia Unified School District board on Thursday adopted final layoff resolutions for both classified and certificated staff after district leaders said budget pressures and enrollment uncertainty required reductions.
Dr. Jennings, the district human resources lead, presented Resolution No. 25‑26‑41 (classified layoffs) and Resolution No. 25‑26‑42 (certificated layoffs), which listed positions impacted by eliminations or hour reductions. The classified resolution combined earlier January and March actions and included corrections to an earlier posted attachment; the board approved it on roll call with four trustees voting yes and one voting no. The certificated resolution (three names on the list, including a school psychologist and two administrators) was also approved on roll call.
Trustees pressed district staff for clarity on the process for reinstating positions if federal, state or local revenue returns or if enrollment increases. The superintendent said staff cannot finalize a prioritized reinstatement list until more is known about the timing and restrictions of potential state “settle‑up” funds and actual enrollment figures; he described next steps that include consultation with the Budget Advisory Committee, union leaders and site principals and said he expects to return to the board with prioritized options in June if revenue data becomes available.
Several trustees emphasized the need for a clear, board‑level priorities framework (for example: student safety, preserving core instruction, and social‑emotional support) that would guide decisions about which positions to restore first. Staff noted statutory deadlines require notification to impacted employees by mid‑May, which is why the resolution was finalized now.
Board members also discussed the difference between one‑time restricted funds and ongoing general‑fund revenue and cautioned that onetime grants often cannot be used to restore positions long‑term. The superintendent warned that the district may face additional difficult choices if state funding remains constrained.
The board’s vote formalizes district layoffs while deferring prioritization and reinstatement decisions until the district receives clearer fiscal signals.
