The San Diego Unified School District has revealed its intention to eliminate the equivalent of 438 positions across various sectors. The move comes in response to a projected $94 million budget shortfall for the upcoming school year.
Notifications regarding potential layoffs will be distributed next week, as the district explores alternative solutions before resorting to workforce reductions.
As per media reports, the job cuts will impact roles such as elementary teachers, instructional coordinators, central office administrators, vice principals and more.
Efforts will be made to reassign some staff to alternative roles within the district.
Furthermore, the district is actively working to minimise the impact on employees affected by these changes.
San Diego Unified attributes its budgetary challenges to the exhaustion of federal COVID-19 relief funds, a state budget deficit, and a decline in enrolment. The district is additionally contending with escalated costs resulting from employee salary increases approved last year. These factors have compelled the district to make tough decisions to ensure a balanced budget.
The San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) is a prominent public school system in California, serving over 120,000 students across 226 schools.
Established in 1854, it is the second-largest school district in the state. SDUSD emphasises diversity, equity, and inclusion, offering a wide range of educational programmes, including magnet schools, language immersion, and specialised academies.
The district focuses on innovative teaching methods, technology integration and community engagement. With a commitment to student success, SDUSD strives to provide quality education, preparing students for college, career and civic responsibilities.