"With a two-year $87 million budget deficit looming, district trustees agreed to reduce staffing by 324 positions. Of those, 186 are expected to be through layoffs and 138 from existing vacancies. All departments, from administrators to gardeners and cafeteria workers to teachers and classroom aides, will be impacted by the reductions, approved by trustees during their Wednesday meeting."
"Students said they've benefited greatly from programs where cuts will be made, like music and theater or the Reserve Officers' Training Corps, a federally funded character building program the district matches. Campus maintenance, food, security and support staff, represented by Teamsters Local 856, said their working conditions will become unsafe because of the reductions."
"The elimination of a glass glazier, someone responsible for replacing broken windows on campuses, would leave the district with one person qualified to do the job, a particular concern for Teamsters who noted sheets of glass are heavy and hard to move and install alone."
West Contra Costa Unified School District faces severe budget constraints with an $87 million two-year deficit, prompting trustees to approve the elimination of 324 positions. Of these reductions, 186 will occur through layoffs and 138 from existing vacancies. All district departments will be affected, including teaching staff, administrators, maintenance workers, cafeteria employees, and security personnel. Community opposition was substantial, with students, staff, and families attending a board meeting to protest cuts to programs like music, theater, and ROTC. Support staff unions raised safety concerns, particularly regarding maintenance operations. District leadership acknowledged prior budget overages in areas like conference travel, which has since been frozen.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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