California school districts issue thousands of pink slips

"Earlier this month, the Berkeley school board approved more than 350 potential layoffs for next school year that cut deep into central office functions and vital school site roles. Teachers can be reassigned and are unlikely to lose their job, BUSD says, but more at risk are kitchen, custodial, and facilities staff, as well as school counselors and workers in the district's after-school and garden and cooking programs."

"Thousands of California school employees have received preliminary pink slips in recent weeks as districts scramble to close budget gaps caused by falling enrollment and rising costs. Los Angeles Unified School District alone issued more than 3,000 notices in February. Most around the state went to school administrators and classified school staff, such as clerks, administrative assistants and paraeducators."

"School districts across the state have lost both average daily attendance funding, due to declining enrollment, and federal Covid dollars. At the same time, districts are paying more for pensions, health care, and special education."

California school districts, including Berkeley Unified and Los Angeles Unified, issued over 3,000 preliminary layoff notices in early 2025 to address significant budget gaps. The layoffs primarily affect classified staff such as kitchen workers, custodians, facilities personnel, school counselors, and after-school program employees, while teachers face reassignment rather than job loss. Districts comply with state law requiring preliminary pink slips by March 15, with final notices due by May 15. Budget pressures stem from declining enrollment reducing average daily attendance funding, loss of federal COVID relief dollars, and increased spending on pensions, healthcare, and special education services.

Read at www.berkeleyside.org