The Berkeley Unified School District board approved the potential elimination or reduction in work for more than 120 classified employees within the district, as well as reassignment for 231 certificated employees.

The notices target service provider staff such as safety officers, afterschool supervisors and instructional specialists in art, athletics and drama. The majority of these employees are represented by the Berkeley Council of Classified Employees, which advocates for more than 600 nonteaching staff across Berkeley schools.

Daniel Brownson, a district employee and BCCE representative, said the notices were “even worse than (he) expected,” adding that the union was anticipating 70 to 80 layoffs as opposed to the more than 100 potential notices facing BCCE staff that are listed in the resolution. 

Brownson said he was one of the classified employees who was laid off last year, but he was able to find reassignment in a similar position within the district.

“Depriving someone of their livelihood is essentially a violent act,” Brownson said. “People think that sounds extreme, but in our society, your ability to secure those necessities of life — shelter, food, medical care — are dependent on your ability to secure employment.” 

These notices come as the district is facing a $7.6 million budget deficit. According to the resolution, the district is reducing or terminating classified employee positions “due to a lack of work and/or lack of funds.” 

These notices of layoff or reassignment, also known as “pink slips,” are mandated by the California education code. As required by law, the district must send out pink slips by March 15 and finalize notices by May 15. 

Although more than 120 classified positions are at risk of being cut or reshuffled, there is a possibility that some pink slips will be rescinded by the final May deadline. Last year, Berkeley Unified rescinded 147 out of 182 layoff notices for nonteaching staff. 

Out of the 120-plus classified positions that will receive March 15 notices of layoff or reassignment,107 will go to members of BCCE, while 13 will go to members of IFPTE Local 21, which represents the district’s managerial employees.

According to District Director of Human Resources Alexander Billotte, classified employees are at risk of layoff this year, while certificated employees are not, due to attrition. The Berkeley Federation of Teachers negotiated a tentative contract with the district last month, noting that the deal pushed the district “to the very edge” of what it could afford to avoid layoffs and further financial strain. 

The 231 certificated employees at risk are not teachers but rather administrators, supervisors and employees on probationary contracts. 

“BCCE is ready to work with the district to find thoughtful solutions that protect student services and the workforce that supports them,” said BCCE President Frank Hernandez in a public comment. “(The) budget reflects priorities, (and) we are asking the district to show that the people who serve students every day are one of those priorities.” 

Some employees may receive layoff or reassignment notices as a result of impacted funding, according to Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Samantha Tobias-Espinosa. Billotte said PTA- and site-funded positions will be noticed and rescinded “as soon as possible” when the funds become accessible to the district.

“We want to make sure that we are dealing with this difficult process … and making sure that we make our staff feel valued, seen and respected as part of this process, but also following within our allocated budget and resources,” Tobias-Espinosa said during a presentation on the March 15 notices.

The board will continue with presentations and hold further discussions until final notices of layoff or reassignment are released by May 15.