The Fresno Unified School Board unanimously approved a supplemental retirement plan Wednesday for more than 550 employees, shaving over $56 million over the next five years for the district\u2019s strained budget.<\/p>\n
The district lost 1,100 students this school year and anticipates losing 1,200 next year, district chief financial officer Patrick Jensen said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will miss the employees who have chosen to take advantage of the supplementary retirement,\u201d said Superintendent Misty Her. \u201cHowever, being able to move forward with this plan provides greater flexibility in addressing our budgeting needs for the 2026-27 school year and allows us to better align our resources with enrollment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fresno Unified has been dealing with significant budget constraints due to declining enrollment, chronic absenteeism, and the end of COVID-era funding.<\/p>\n
In July, the district is facing a $22 million budget deficit, forcing it to ax programs and remove employee positions.<\/p>\n
And now, Fresno Unified could potentially close three to five schools due to enrollment issues, a district spokesperson told GV Wire. The district lost 1,100 students this school year and anticipates losing 1,200 next year, district chief financial officer Patrick Jensen said.<\/p>\n
The district is projected to save more than $13 million via the approved retirement package.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose savings only occur if those employees who retire are not replaced,\u201d Jensen cautioned the board trustees. \u201cAs we decline in number of students, we can\u2019t go back to increasing the number of adults in the system.\u201d<\/p>\n
Said Superintendent Her: \u201cOur highest priority is retaining our teachers and staff and protecting programs that support our students, and this helps us achieve that goal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bottom line: The district is hoping to cut more than $50 million from the budget over the next two school years.<\/p>\n
The Retirement Plan<\/p>\n
The number of employees looking to retire blew past original projections with 573 submitting written letters of intent.<\/p>\n
A majority of those retiring are teachers and school staff, such as bus drivers, custodians, and aides. More than 250 teachers will exit the district at the end of this school year.<\/p>\n