East San Jose school district to vote on layoffs for student safety, mental health staff

"Jack Hamner, the president of the East Side Teachers Association, said 70% of the district's students are English language learners, homeless, foster youth or low income and can't afford to lose access to counselors, social workers and advisors. Those are some severely needy kids. They need their support systems more than ever, Hamner said. The positions they're cutting, these are the mental health and wellness services that our kids desperately need."

"As an advisor at James Lick, Roberta Cabigas said her role on campus is to make sure everyone leaves alive at the end of the school day. We are responsible for everyone's well-being, Cabigas said. We're kind of like a clearinghouse for problems. If kids don't feel safe, they don't learn. Cabigas, who has worked in the district for 28 years, said she's responsible for everything from tracking daily attendance and supporting struggling students to breaking up fights and handling intruders on campus property."

East Side Union High School District will vote on layoffs that would cut roughly $6.5 million and eliminate about 85 full-time positions to address insolvency and a projected $9 million deficit for the 2026–27 school year. Jobs at risk include counselors, social workers, campus safety advisors, wellness center clerks, parent outreach coordinators and special education teachers. Educators warn the reductions will remove critical mental health, wellness and safety supports for disproportionately vulnerable students—approximately 70% are English language learners, homeless, foster youth or low income—undermining crisis response, attendance tracking and student support systems.

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