Over 200 jobs on the line as Fresno Unified weighs major budget cuts

FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — The Fresno Unified School Board of Trustees are facing a difficult decision, weighing staff reductions that could impact more than 200 employees across the district.

With more than 200 jobs on the line, the boardroom Wednesday night was packed with anxious employees and union leaders waiting to see how trustees would vote.

Many of those in attendance said they came to stand in solidarity.

“We got here to support each other. No one wants to have layoffs or cut off on their position,” said Andy Gonzalez, a campus safety officer with Fresno Unified.

For Gonzalez, the issue is personal.

His position is among those that could be eliminated. He addressed trustees directly, speaking about the role campus safety officers play on school grounds.

“Mostly, for our department, with the campus safety would be, you know, once again, the safety and security. The safety of the staff, of the students, the safety of the facility, safety of the site, the security aspect,” Gonzalez said. “I did corrections for many years in the Department of Corrections for California. It was our key role in safety and security. So, I bring that here, the same design. That’s why I speak with a heart tone, because it means a lot to me.”

He said the possibility of losing his job came as a shock.

“Thoughts is like, wow really? Because when I first went to orientation, they talked about family. Family oriented,” Gonzalez said.

Other employees not directly at risk said they are still concerned about the broader impact of the cuts.

“Whether the vote happens tonight or later, I just hope they make the right decision with the real implications of the decision they will be making,” said AJ Pipkin, a Fresno Unified employee. “To cut vital direct support positions makes no sense.”

The district says it has been working with labor partners throughout the process to minimize the impact of what it calls necessary reductions.

According to Fresno Unified, any employee who currently holds a benefited position and is not placed through the seniority-based “bumping” process will be offered the opportunity to move into another benefited position within the district, if qualified.

Those positions could be in different departments or come with different pay. However, the district says affected employees would keep their core benefits and years of service.

They would also remain on a reemployment list if their previous job becomes available again.

Employees impacted by the reductions will receive individual notifications outlining available positions and deadlines to accept them, if they are not placed through the bumping process.

District leaders say the reductions are part of a broader effort to realign resources and programs to meet the district’s goals and guardrails.

Fresno Unified is planning $39 million in reductions for the 2026–2027 school year.

In October 2025, the district offered an early retirement incentive to reduce the impact on classrooms during the budget process.

A total of 573 employees opted to retire, creating what the district describes as a significant drop in staffing. The early retirement program is expected to save about $56 million over the next five years.

Despite those savings, district officials say the incentive still falls short of the $50 million needed to balance the budget for the 2026–2027 school year.

Trustees ultimately moved forward with identifying the positions slated for elimination as the district continues efforts to close its budget gap.

Fresno Unified is not the only district facing layoffs.

Several major California school districts are facing significant staff reductions amid ongoing budget challenges.

In Sacramento County, the San Juan Unified School District is considering laying off up to 300 employees, including teachers, counselors, vice principals and other school staff.

Nearly 200 instructional assistants and campus safety monitors are also at risk.

In the Sacramento City Unified School District, more than 400 positions are expected to be eliminated.

In San Francisco, officials say potential staffing cuts have not yet been finalized, but difficult decisions are still ahead.

Meanwhile, in Los Angeles Unified, more than 650 employees have already been laid off as part of a broader cost-cutting plan.

District leaders across the state cite budget shortfalls and declining enrollment as key factors driving the reductions.

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