Santa Barbara Unified School District Board prepares layoffs

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – On the same day workers celebrated Teachers Appreciation Day, the Santa Barbara Unified School District had layoffs on the school board's agenda.

By California law workers had to be notified they could be let go on March 15.

Final notifications are due on May 15.

On Tuesday, the school board discussed the reduction in certified and classified service workers.

The district that already promised the union it will not increase class sizes is working to keep impacts as far from the classroom as possible.

The district issued the following statement:

"We bring tonight's reduction in force decisions to the board after much careful analysis and planning. The impact on colleagues cannot be measured. 

More than half of the positions that were given RIF notices will continue next school year. Additionally, a $6.2 million agreement with the Santa Barbara Teachers Association to keep reduced class sizes minimized some of the layoff impacts.

The decision was made after weeks of evaluating budgets for revenue sources, data showing the effectiveness of District events on student outcomes, and collecting stakeholder feedback through the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) process and parent advisory councils.

We feel the loss of quality employees and the work they performed. District leaders are already planning to ensure that high-quality instruction will continue next school year."

The district also said more than half the workers who received Reduction In Force notifications letters warning of possible layoffs will keep their jobs.

Due to a variety of job-saving measures the exact number of layoffs is difficult to pin down.

At least 15 full time positions are slated to be cut and more than 30 workers are likely to see a reduction in hours.

Employees with seniority can use it to return to former positions, leading to the layoff of workers with less seniority.

Members of the Santa Barbara Teachers Association and the California School Employees Association put out a "Join The Wake" rally call on social media.

By 5 p.m. workers rallied in front of the district office.

Ken Rivas, the Chapter 37 President of the California School Employees Association, filled out speaker cards before the meeting.

"I am here to oppose the layoffs, and so, I think that they did make some effort in saving some positions, they didn't go far enough," said Rivas. "And some of these positions are still touching employees who have direct contact, working directly with students, and that is going to hurt students not to have that service."

Workers filled the overflow room and made public comments about their careers.

It is not clear if their voices will change the situation.