Santa Rosa, CA — Santa Rosa City Schools trustees are set to vote Wednesday night on issuing layoff notices to over 150 classified and certificated employees, including family engagement facilitators, restorative response specialists, elementary classroom teachers, and secondary counselors. The move comes as the district grapples with a significant budget deficit, forcing officials to make tough decisions to balance finances.
Despite the layoff notices, district officials caution that the notices do not necessarily equate to immediate job loss. The final number of layoffs will depend on various factors, including the state’s final budget and the outcome of ongoing school closures. These closures were approved less than a week ago, as part of a district restructuring under a new “7-12 model” aimed at consolidating middle school students onto high school campuses.
Assistant Superintendent and Director of Human Resources Vicki Zands explained that the layoffs are part of a strategy to “rightsize” the district, ensuring staffing levels align with current student enrollment. The district’s calculations, which led to the proposed cuts, take into account contractual obligations with the teacher’s union, which mandates specific class sizes, as well as student course requests.
One of the most affected areas is counseling services. The district is proposing cuts to academic counselors, as the counselor-to-student ratio of 1:400 outlined in the union contract is being used to guide reductions. Additionally, cuts are planned for college and career counselors, as well as “multitiered support staff” — counselors who work with students facing social, emotional, or behavioral challenges.
Both academic and multitiered support counselors are funded through the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP), which is shaped by the district’s educational priorities and largely influenced by state funding. However, with the state’s budget still in flux, there are uncertainties surrounding funding levels, especially with the possibility of funds being redirected toward fire relief efforts following the January Los Angeles wildfire. A clearer picture of the state’s budget will emerge in May, which will allow the district’s Educational Services department to finalize its LCAP, determining what programs and positions are funded.
“The counselors may be fully written into the LCAP or they may not,” Zands said. “I have to notice those counselors just in case they are not.”
In addition to counselor cuts, the district is also planning to eliminate the equivalent of 20 restorative specialists, who play a critical role in student conflict resolution and behavioral support. The reductions in family engagement facilitators and restorative specialists come as part of a broader restructuring effort within the district.
As Santa Rosa City Schools continues to navigate these difficult financial circumstances, community members and educators are left anxiously awaiting the results of the upcoming vote. While some staff may ultimately retain their positions, the looming cuts signal a challenging period for the district and its employees.
With much still uncertain, the final number of layoffs will depend on how the district adjusts to shifting funding levels, student needs, and state budget decisions over the coming months.