FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Fresno Unified is one step closer to cutting more than 200 critical jobs. This after the board voted to move forward with layoffs Wednesday, in front of hundreds of employees calling on them to do otherwise.
“I can’t name all the positions that are on the chopping block, but I know the benefit of every single one,” says AJ Pipkin, Fresno Unified Employee.
The teacher’s union, not backing down. In a social media post Thursday, union leaders highlighted that the board recently increased its own compensation by 113%.
RELATED: Fresno Unified votes to cut over 200 jobs amid $77 million budget shortfall
They also doubled down on their claim the district is choosing not to allocate its reserves to avoid these cuts.
“Unconscionable, when we think $179 million reserve level, that’s five times the state minimum we can do better as a district,” says Manuel Bonilla, FTA President.
Action News asked the district’s Chief Financial Officer directly about this claim.
“There’s a misunderstanding that the reserve and the idea that the reserve is not being spent. So, we are currently deficit spending, as we deficit spend, we are spending those reserve levels down. The reserves do not represent a piggy bank effectively that the district can tap. Those funds are being utilized to cover ongoing expenses today,” says Patrick Jensen, FUSD Chief Financial Officer.
Over at Central Unified, even more cuts.
About 75 positions are to be eliminated and 93 positions are to see a reduction in work hours. These positions are mainly instructional aids and special education aides.
Board chambers were filled on Tuesday.
“If you are a teacher or instructional aid here tonight, please stand or raise your hand. Yeah, that’s most of the people in the room,” says Laura Bolton, Central Unified Teachers’ Association President.
Action News obtained a letter that was sent out to employees that says the cuts are due to the end in one time funding they received three school years ago.
Bernice Bailey, a retired kindergarten teacher, told the board these aids are a non-negotiable in kinder classrooms.
“Trying to meet the needs of 28 kids with such diverse skills and needs is nearly impossible without an aide,” says Bailey.
In a statement to Action News, Central Unified says as they continue their negotiations, they expect the total number of impacted individuals to be lower and that they are working with the union to explore options to preserve as many positions as possible.
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