School board intervenes to save food service jobs

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Santa Barbara Unified School District could have saved more than a $1 million by laying off more than 20 food service program workers, but board members, on Tuesday night , directed the staff to avoid proposed layoffs.

The proposal to lay off workers came from outgoing Superintendent Cary Matsuoka.

School Board President Laura Capps said that would send the wrong signal during this pandemic.

Capps said the board is asking the district to not only save jobs, but to increase food service to more students and families.

"With so many people out of work, we know that it's getting harder and harder to just put food on the table for many of our students and their families, and in my view, now is not the time to be laying off the very workers who are putting their health at risk everyday by cooking those meals," said Capps.

She said the district should be helping by getting more school meals to the community.

The board also voted to create two new food service positions.