The Alum Rock Union School District in East San Jose is cutting management and administrative positions as it grapples with a significant budget shortfall. The district's board of trustees recently approved the layoffs to address an $8 million deficit projected for the 2026-27 school year.
These cuts are the latest in a series of measures taken by the district, which has been struggling with declining student enrollment and the end of one-time grant funding. The decision has prompted concern from parents and staff who fear the loss of essential services for students.
Key Takeaways
- The Alum Rock Union School District board approved layoffs for management and administrative staff for the 2026-27 school year.
- The district is facing an $8 million budget deficit, which is expected to increase to $9.5 million the following year.
- These layoffs follow earlier cuts that could affect more than 38 employees, including bus drivers and wellness specialists.
- Declining student enrollment and the loss of federal COVID-19 funds are major contributors to the financial crisis.
New Layoffs Target District Leadership
In a late-night special meeting, the Alum Rock Union School District (ARUSD) board of trustees voted to eliminate several key administrative roles. The unanimous decision will result in the layoff of classified management staff, including the chief of communications, a student information systems coordinator, and supervisors for network systems and school link services.
A separate, more contentious vote of 3-2 approved the dismissal of two executive administrators. Trustees Corina Herrera-Loera and Minh Nguyen voted against this specific measure. According to district policy, all affected employees must receive their layoff notices by March 15.
District spokesperson Sergio Diaz Luna explained the board's rationale. "(Board members are) trying to limit the impacts to the school sites, trying to focus on the district end," he stated. "There has been a lot of restructuring here and cuts at the district level. No one wants to lay anyone off. It is just one of the unfortunate things that we have to go through as a district."
An Ongoing Financial Struggle
The recent layoffs are a response to a severe and growing financial crisis within the district. ARUSD must close an $8 million budget gap for the upcoming 2026-27 school year. Projections show the situation worsening, with the deficit expected to climb to $9.5 million in the 2027-28 academic year.
A History of Difficult Decisions
This is not the first time ARUSD has made drastic cuts. Just two years ago, the board voted to close six schools ahead of the 2025-26 school year as it faced a staggering $20 million budget deficit at the time.
Several factors are driving the shortfall. The district, like many across the country, is dealing with the expiration of one-time federal COVID-19 relief funds that had temporarily bolstered its budget. Compounding this issue is a sharp and steady decline in student population.
Student enrollment in the Alum Rock Union School District has fallen significantly, from over 10,000 students in the 2015-16 school year to approximately 7,270 students in 2024-25.
This drop in enrollment directly impacts the funding the district receives from the state, creating a structural deficit that requires significant operational changes.
Community Voices Concerns Over Cuts
The decision to eliminate positions, particularly those that support students and families, has been met with criticism. Some community members and union representatives argue that these roles are essential, even if they are not classroom teachers.
Sharon Fontaine, the Alum Rock chapter president of the California School Employees Association (CSEA), spoke at the board meeting, urging members to reconsider cutting positions like community liaisons and wellness site specialists from previous layoff rounds.
"You say you don't want to hit the front line, but you're hitting the front line. Same with the wellness people," Fontaine said. "It's not just their job, it's their insurance, it's their household."
Regina Cardenas, a community school site specialist, echoed these sentiments. She emphasized the deep connections that liaisons build with students and their families, providing a critical support system.
"The kids rely on these resources, so do the families," Cardenas explained. "To have these points of contact gone is an injustice to these kids."
Questions Raised Over Meeting Time
The timing of the vote also drew scrutiny. The special board meeting was held at 10:45 p.m. on a Thursday, a time that some felt was inaccessible to the public.
Trustee Corina Herrera-Loera, who voted against some of the layoffs, questioned the late-night session. "It's confusing why there'd be a separate meeting so late," she said. "To our community and our staff, who may want to have a voice, that's disrespectful. That in itself shows lack of transparency."
Board President Linda Chavez defended the timing, stating that the late meeting was necessary to meet the state's March 15 deadline for issuing layoff notices.
What Lies Ahead for Alum Rock
While the layoffs have been approved, the district has until June 30 to potentially rehire some employees if new budget solutions or funding sources are identified. However, the path forward remains challenging as the district adjusts to a new reality of fewer students and reduced funding.
Parents like Yvette Marquez hope the district can find another way. "I understand the district has over an $8 million deficit at this time," she said. "Letting go of people who are ... so important to the whole school community and operations has a big effect as well."
The district's next public board meeting is scheduled for March 12, where the community will likely continue to voice its concerns over the future of its schools.
