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Middletown Unified board approves classified staffing reductions, amends bus-driver hours
Summary
The Middles town Unified Board approved Resolution 172425 to discontinue certain classified positions because of a structural budget deficit, amending the action to set bus-driver workdays at 6.5 hours; the vote was 5–0 after public comment and trustee deliberations.
The Middletown Unified Board of Education voted unanimously to approve Resolution 172425, a measure to discontinue specified classified positions because of a budget shortfall. The resolution, presented by district administration as part of ongoing deficit-correction work, was amended on the floor to change bus-driver daily hours from 6 to 6.5 before the final vote.
Superintendent Grama described the plan as the product of an iterative process with staff and community input, calling it a “living document” while urging the board to act within statutory timelines. “A lot of work has gone into this plan,” he said, noting the district must reduce structural deficit spending to remain solvent in future years. Board members stressed the decision was difficult but necessary given current revenue uncertainty.
Public commenters urged the board to slow down for more analysis. Melissa Carly Singh asked whether the district had performed a full job-by-job analysis and raised concerns about the impact on wages and health benefits for affected employees. The board’s discussion focused on mitigation, sequencing of cuts and monitoring impacts; trustees asked administration for more detail on how reduced hours or reassignments would be implemented.
The board recorded the motion, amendment and voice vote on the resolution as passing 5–0. The resolution text as presented authorizes discontinuance of classified employees due to lack of work and/or funds; the approved amendment increases bus-driver hours to 6.5 per day. Next steps identified in the meeting included notifications required by law and follow-up reports from the superintendent on operational impacts and potential restorations if funding improves.
