Over 150 teachers, many of whom lost their homes in the Eaton Fire, will now lose their jobs as Pasadena Unified School District board members cut costs for the upcoming school year.
The resolution was passed by a vote of 6 to 1 during an hours-long meeting Thursday night.
One school board representative told KTLA’s Rachel Menitoff before the vote that it is a very difficult decision, but that the need for cuts pre-dates the fires.
It stems from a pre-COVID $37 million deficit and, for a number of reasons, may be necessary to sustain the school district.
As a result, the school district said that it plans to cut $12 million this year.
“It’s always the same thing, ‘We overspent. We don’t have any money, and what will we do? Oh, we’ll just cut teachers,’” said 2nd grade teacher Karina Evans.
Officials attribute the need for cuts to declining enrollment, rising costs plaguing many California schools, and the expiration of COVID-19 emergency funds.
The School District issued the following statement Friday morning: “To minimize classroom disruption, cuts are focused on the central office, and we are committed to supporting affected employees. We deeply appreciate our staff’s dedication and recognize the impact of this decision. Our priority remains providing a high-quality education for every student.”
Jonathan Gardner, president of the Pasadena Teachers Union, told KTLA his idea for an alternative solution that he would like to see the board consider.
“In the last five years, the unrestricted outside contractors has grown from $10 million to $30 million,” said Gardner. “They’re talking about $37 million over the course of the next three years, that right there would cut enough that we wouldn’t need to cut any teachers.”
Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco said some of the positions on the ‘chopping block’ are currently vacant, and others might be reassigned depending on seniority.
However, teachers on limited contracts, like Bryan Strehl, who has only one year of teaching under his belt, are especially at risk.
“At the end of this school year, I’m done, my job is done,” said Strehl. “I have to reapply and re-interview, and start the process over with.”
If the board passes this proposal, the state requires that primary layoff notices go out by March 15 and decisions finalized by May.
