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Facing a budget shortfall, the Berkeley Unified School District announced in March 2026 that it was issuing over 350 preliminary layoff or reassignment notices to staff. Credit: Ximena Natera for Berkeleyside \/ Catchlight <\/p>\nFacing a budget shortfall, the Berkeley Unified School District announced in March 2026 that it was issuing over 350 preliminary layoff or reassignment notices to staff. Credit: Ximena Natera for Berkeleyside \/ Catchlight <\/p>\n
The Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD) last week announced it would issue 351 preliminary layoff or reassignment notices, with most reductions expected to fall on non\u2011credentialed staff, as the district anticipates another year of budget cuts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
California law requires school districts to notify employees of potential layoffs by March 15 each year<\/a>, and issue final notices by May 15. Because most of BUSD\u2019s funding comes from the state, the district won\u2019t know its budget until June when California finalizes its own budget. BUSD officials have said they may rescind any layoff notices that are eventually issued, once that revenue is confirmed.\u00a0<\/p>\n Last year, more than 370 certified and classified employees received preliminary notifications from BUSD, including 204 layoff notices. Most of those layoff notices\u00a0were ultimately rescinded<\/a>. But BUSD officials at the time hinted of more stormy weather ahead<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n This year, the district sent a slightly lower number of preliminary notices, with 120 going to classified employees, or support positions that don\u2019t require a special license, and another 231 to credentialed classroom staff. Although some teachers could be reassigned, BUSD officials said they are \u201cconfident\u201d the district won\u2019t need to lay off credentialed instructors because retirements and resignations should make up for the need to do so.<\/p>\n There is no similar reassignment option for classified employees, which includes kitchen, custodial, and facilities staff. This means the preliminary notices sent to these workers are more likely to result in layoffs if the district cannot find the money to keep them.<\/p>\n \u201cConversations like this can be understandably concerning,\u201d Superintendent Enikia Ford Morthel said during last week\u2019s board meeting. \u201c(This) represents a required step in the process, but we know that every single member of our BUSD family is important and valued.\u201d<\/p>\n After-school and family engagement positions are at risk<\/p>\n Among the potentially hardest\u2011hit departments this year are LEARNS, the district\u2019s before\u2011 and after\u2011school program; the Office of Family Equity and Engagement (OFEE); the garden and cooking program; and school counseling. All of these departments are heavily staffed by classified workers<\/a> and some positions are supported by one-time or expiring funds, such as those from Parent Teacher Associations and state grants, according to district officials.\u00a0<\/p>\n Berkeley Council of Classified Employees (BCCE) President Frank Hernandez last week implored the school board to do more to protect classified employees, who he said are currently \u201cat the center\u201d of the proposed cutbacks.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cBefore permanent classified employees are placed on the layoff list, the district must take a serious look at other areas of spending,\u201d Hernandez said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cOnce again, BUSD seems to be balancing its budget on the backs of the lowest-paid employees,\u201d Dan Brownson<\/a>, a district worker represented by BCCE, told the school board during public comment.<\/p>\n In the LEARNS program, nine after-school coordinators, more than 20 instructional technicians, and an extended learning manager received notices. <\/p>\n Seven OFEE specialists received notices in addition to a bilingual staffer and a program supervisor. Some teachers and parents believe that cuts to OFEE last year may have led to the cancellation of the district\u2019s annual Black History Oratorical Fest<\/a>, although this was not substantiated by BUSD.\u00a0<\/p>\n In the garden and cooking programs, more than eight full\u2011time\u2011equivalent gardening specialists and at least two cooking specialists received notifications. Notices were also sent to a nutrition education supervisor, a cooking instructional technician, and a career and technical education teacher. BUSD cited increasing costs and grant funding limitations as reasons for the notices.<\/p>\n School counselors, who are certified employees, could be significantly impacted. All full-time equivalent middle and high school counselors, including those providing intervention and academic support, and counseling staff in the Bridge<\/a> and Puente programs, which support students of color, received notices. The district said it is reviewing the staffing needs in these programs with an aim to \u201creduce redundancy.\u201d<\/p>\n BUSD officials said final decisions about staff reductions will not occur without community engagement and further school board input. District human resources and union leadership will host webinars<\/a> later this month for staff who received notices.<\/p>\n Matt Meyer, president of the Berkeley Federation of Teachers, said in a recorded message at last week\u2019s board meeting that most layoffs and reassignments could be avoided \u201cwith proper planning.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n