What's at stake?
More than 250 Fresno Unified jobs are on the line Wednesday at the Feb. 25 Fresno Unified school board meeting. California’s third largest school district has a projected $59 million deficit for the coming 2026-27 school year. As of Tuesday afternoon, it’s unclear how much the district would save if the layoffs get approved.
More than 250 jobs — including teachers —- could face the chopping block this week as the Fresno Unified Board of Education grapples with a multi-million dollar budget deficit.
On Wednesday, the board will consider whether to reduce, discontinue or eliminate 190 full-time equivalent positions for classified employees. It’s unclear if that figure includes another 63.94 classified vacancies that are also on the chopping block.
On Feb. 25, the Fresno Unified school board will also consider whether to terminate 84 full-time equivalent positions for certificated employees, which includes 19 preschool teachers, among other classroom jobs.
It wasn’t immediately clear how much money the district expects to save if the cuts are approved. Fresnoland reached out to Fresno Unified, SEIU Local 521 and the Fresno Teacher Association, who did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Union leaders have urged the district to find the money elsewhere.
“FUSD can and should avoid balancing its budget off its already lowest-paid workers, who have long held the foundation of the educational structure in Fresno’s schools,” said Debbie Acosta, FUSD Chapter President for SEIU, via email last week. “Now is the time to fix what is broken and tap into reserves to invest in what works. Making the right choices now will protect students and staff during a time it is needed the most.”
The potential job and pay cuts have been particularly hard to swallow in recent weeks after the Board of Trustees doubled their own take-home pay ahead of budget talks.
Classified jobs on the chopping block include paraprofessionals, managers and school and community liaisons.
Home/School Spanish liaisons would bear the brunt of job cuts, with the equivalent of 42 full-time positions proposed to be eliminated.
For certificated employees, 19 pre-school teachers, 22 school counselors and multiple administrative positions are just some of the several positions that were identified for elimination.
For classified positions, the resolution notes the reason for the reductions or eliminations as “lack of work and/or lack of funds.”
These reductions or eliminations, if approved, would go into effect on June 30.
Shortly after the publication of this story, Fresno Unified sent local media a news release confirming the reduction of “approximately 200 positions.” The district’s statement did not detail how much it would save from the reductions, if the number stated includes vacancies and the exact number of classified and certificated positions affected.
The statement also said the district’s own bylaws require maintaining a cash reserve “within the 5-10% target range.” The district’s reserves are currently at 5.83%.
According to the proposed resolution, reductions to certificated positions were “not based upon a reduction of average daily-attendance during the past two years.” Instead, the resolution simply states that the reductions are in the best interest of the district, its schools and students.
Reductions for classified positions also include reductions to the amount of hours per position, ranging from reductions of one to twelve hours.
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