Pajaro Valley Unified School District teachers often dread the week of March 15, the state’s deadline to issue layoff notices or “pink-slips” to workers across the district.
These notices are preliminary warnings, and don’t always guarantee an official termination of employment. But in past years, this meant teachers had to fight from spring to summer to keep their jobs for another year.
At least 85 teachers received layoff notices Monday and Tuesday morning, according to PVUSD Teachers Union President Brandon Diniz.
At the same time, teachers across the district have been pushing to resist a proposed cap on medical and dental coverage, the elimination of academic coordinators and the outsourcing of mental health supports for students.
Rylan Shannon, who teaches English at Pajaro Valley High School, was among those who received a pink slip early this week. While he recognizes the budget constraints that the district faces, he rejects the notion that laying off teachers is the solution.
“I am dumbfounded by the choice to eliminate a teacher instead of finding other ways to fund the budget,” he said. “In a district that boasts about its transparency—knowing that the budget is tight—these conversations should not begin the week of deadlines. It is exhausting that this pink slip behaviour has become the norm in PVUSD.”
At the same meeting, the trustees heard a report of a recent retirement incentive offered to teachers. Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Kit Bragg said that 174 teachers have accepted that offer, but it is not yet clear how much that will offset the layoffs.
The district is projecting a $29.3 million deficit this year, effectively spending more money than they will make. PVUSD cites this constraint as one of the reasons for layoffs.
District officials also point to declining enrollment.
In California, every student who shows up to class means annual funding from the state for the district. State funding is invaluable for school districts; it directly supports the salaries and benefits of teachers and staff alongside everyday operating costs like water and electricity.
PVUSD is projected to lose more than 3,000 students over the next seven years, a nearly 20% decline that could cost the district tens of millions in annual funding, according to a new demographic report.
The study by consulting firm Riverside-based MGT forecasts enrollment will fall from about 15,690 students in 2025 to roughly 12,600 by 2032.
The enrollment decline is caused by ongoing demographic shifts in the county. Lower birth rates, limited housing growth, aging households and rising costs all play into the district’s declining enrollment trend.
Local efforts to build new housing are unlikely to reverse the trend. Roughly 457 housing units are planned or under construction in the district, which is not enough to offset the steady decline in enrollment.
The decrease in enrollment affects all grade levels, impacting high schools the most. Watsonville High School is expected to see the largest decline, at roughly 28%. The report explains that when fewer children enter the district as kindergarteners, graduating classes will get smaller and smaller over time.
District officials are expected to use the findings to guide decisions on school capacity, boundaries and long-term planning. But these aren’t easy fixes that can be made districtwide. The report notes changes will have to include a tailored approach for each individual neighborhood.
Also at Wednesday’s board meeting, trustees agreed to form an advisory group to explore possible options for school closures. The group will include teachers, parents and members of the broader community from across the district.
According to Trustee Misty Navarro, the number of schools compared to that of students means the district is “spread too thin,” and is underdelivering for its students. She proposed that concentrating efforts will provide the best resources to students and looked forward to further community involvement. Others on the board agreed.
“We need to look at this as an opportunity,” said Board President Carol Turley. “We need to look at it as an opportunity to make our schools the best they can be and to reimagine what they can be.”
“I know change is scary, but if you can put it in a mind frame of making improvements for students, then I think we’ll be more comfortable.”
As the district faces pressure to maintain as many staff positions as possible while simultaneously maintaining a balanced budget, those working at the district level say they want to ensure the best student experience, even during times of financial turmoil.
“I hope that we can rescind a few more pink flips because our students deserve that we spend every dollar that comes in,” Trustee Olivia Flores said. “I don’t want to see a surplus here.”
