The WCCUSD school board has approved cutting numerous positions, from art and music teachers and principals to groundskeepers, instructional aides and a popular JROTC program.
The reductions are part of a larger effort to eliminate the district’s $127.2 million deficit in a three-year period. The cuts total about 300 full-time equivalent positions, though the number of employees who will lose their jobs isn’t yet known because some positions are vacant, some people will take early retirement and other jobs are held by multiple part-time workers. District documents estimate the reductions will save $87 million.
“This is going to fundamentally change what the district looks like and that includes programs. It includes practices. It includes all that stuff,” board trustee Jamela Smith-Folds said at the board meeting on Wednesday. “It is heartbreaking that we are here, but this is where we are.”
Of the several hundred positions on the chopping block, only two were spared: two part-time positions for Kennedy High School’s welding construction and building program.
Board clerk Demetrio Gonzales-Hoy tried to save De Anza High School’s Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program as well as some elementary band positions but didn’t have enough board support to do so.
Ultimately the cuts passed by a 3-1 vote, (Smith-Folds voting “no” and trustee Leslie Reckler absent), with the board saying it would aim to keep elementary band teachers if it finds additional dollars. Cuts to classified positions, however, were approved unanimously.
Gonzales-Hoy argued the district could restore some of the cut positions after a deeper review of vendor contracts by a newly formed board committee or through anticipated additional state funding next year. The district’s only JROTC program, which offers students interested in a military career leadership development opportunities, is led by two instructors who split a $173,000 salary annually. The elementary school band teachers would cost the district about $1.1 million.
However, acting Superintendent of Business Services Jeff Carter said that while saving one position won’t be the “straw that breaks the camel’s back,” the district is fending off a very real threat of state receivership.
WCCUSD layoffs at-a-glance
- For certificated positions (credentialed teaching positions), the grant-funded layoffs total 51.7 full-time equivalent positions, with the largest share hitting arts and music programs. The cuts include more than 14 FTE in music instruction, five FTE for art, three FTE for PE teachers and some reductions in theater and dance.
- More than 20 administrative and instructional specialist roles were also eliminated, along with two secondary counselors. Multiple career technical education positions at Kennedy, Hercules and Richmond high schools as well as at DeJean and Pinole middle schools were also eliminated.
- Also on the chopping block: 228 Teamster jobs, including gardeners, elementary playground supervisors and custodians.
“Without reductions, we are projected to run out of payroll around October or November (of this year) at the current spending rate,” Carter told the board. “That would start triggering the steps for the county to start reviewing and coming in.”
This week’s cuts were the second part of some emotional changes for the WCCUSD community. On Feb. 12, after a six-hour meeting that ended with teachers in tears, the board approved combining Betty Reid and Pinole middle schools and eliminating most K-8 programs to save $42 million.
Depending on how serious the financial situation is, the state could loan the district money but it would have many strings attached. The school board would lose all decision-making power and a state-appointed administrator would make decisions on budgets, labor contracts, school closures, program eliminations and all financial decisions.
“If we all agree that this is bad, and I believe that we all agree that this is bad, please understand that worse is coming,” Smith-Folds said, referring to a potential state or county takeover. “If we do not do what we were elected to do, which is to keep us fiscally solvent, worse is coming.”
In 1991, WCCUSD, when it was known as Richmond Unified, was the first school district in the state to be taken over and it took the district more than 20 years to pay back the loan.
Some reductions in force are “precautionary”
The board’s approval of what is called a “reduction in force” (RIF) doesn’t mean anyone was immediately fired, but it does start the process of eliminating the positions for financial reasons. However, if funding can be found, the district can reverse course and save the jobs.
In California, preliminary RIF notices must be sent in March, before districts know the final state funding amount, enrollment numbers or any grant awards. So what often happens is that districts will issue more RIF notices than they ultimately need, rescinding some or all if the budget outlook improves.
Last year, WCCUSD distributed dozens of “pink slips” that were ultimately rescinded. However, the financial outlook of the district this year is more dire.
Of the roughly 300 full-time equivalent positions threatened, about 90 are grant-funded which means they may have a better chance of being reinstated if the grant is not sunsetting.
“We have sunsetting grants that are expiring 6/30/2026 that are on here, like the arts and music block grant is expiring (for elementary band), and there is no state-funded program to replace that at the moment,” Carter said, noting that some of these RIFs are “precautionary.” “It really depends on the grant and what time of the year we get a grant.”
Carter said during budget development in May and June is “when we can actually make those decisions and determinations for the following year.”
The Kennedy High community was at the board meeting in full force on Wednesday. More than 16 students, as well as staff and alumni, spoke out against several cuts the school was facing including their Spanish for Spanish Speakers classes, the ethnic studies course, the journalism class and other electives and pathway programs.
Senior Amy Condor, who has been a regular at school board meetings to advocate for her peers, said it’s frustrating to see the difference between what is offered at Kennedy versus other high schools.
“Many of us already feel the limitations when it comes to electives, advanced courses and career pathways. So when we hear about more cuts, it feels like we’re being asked to fight for crumbs,” Condor told the board. “We’re not asking for luxury. We’re asking for equity. We’re asking for the same opportunities to explore and to grow.”
“When programs disappear, so do chances for students to discover who they are and who they could become,” Condor continued. “These are not just items on the budget sheet. There are opportunities and futures.”
District officials said the challenge at Kennedy is its declining enrollment, which means less revenue for staff. However, students and staff said enrollment declines because services decline.
“It’s a positive feedback loop,” said Kumi Yanagihara, a science teacher at Kennedy High School. “We lose students, we lose (enrollment dollars), and then we have to cut teachers and programs, and the district looks less and less attractive for our families. They move to charters. We lose (more enrollment dollars). Do you see where I’m going with this?”
For grant-funded classified positions, about 41.3 full-time equivalent positions are poised to be eliminated. The cuts shrink the district’s student support infrastructure, eliminating or reducing the equivalent of about 11 full-time instructional aide positions, nearly 10 full-time food service roles and multiple social work, dropout prevention and bilingual support jobs. While many of those positions were vacant, it’s unclear how many people will be impacted.
Teamsters see significant cuts
The district is cutting many more positions. The union impacted the most appears to be the Teamsters, with 228 non-grant funded positions on the chopping block, though 80 are vacant according to district data.
The school board approved cutting 62 elementary playground supervisor jobs and reducing the hours of 38 other elementary playground supervisors. WCCUSD is also set to cut 17 custodian roles, about 50 paraprofessional positions (though the district says all of those are vacant) and more than 20 clerk positions. Other Teamsters jobs being cut include gardeners, three librarians positions and campus safety specialists.
Part of the 228 Teamster positions include 25 school outreach community workers — however district officials said they are reclassifying the position so that it can be funded a different way.
Many Teamsters showed up to the board meeting demanding the district look elsewhere to save dollars.
“In our department (groundskeeping), we were once 46 people deep. You then cut it in half to 23,” Lionel Arnold, lead gardener, told the board. “Now, with these budget cuts, you want to cut us another seven jobs, which is 31% of our staff.”
Others, like United Teachers of Richmond President Francisco Ortiz, criticized district spending and blamed officials’ overspending on contracts and trips as part of the reason for financial calamity.
“Something is deeply wrong. You’re being asked to consider cuts that will destabilize students’ lives while district executives’ leadership is projecting (going) $8 million dollars over the budget that you (the school board) approved for this year alone,” Ortiz told the board. “That is not fiscal responsibility. That is a failure of leadership. Our students did not overspend on consultants. They did not approve excessive or travel conference spending, and our students should not pay for central office mistakes or mismanagement.”
There don’t appear to be many non-grant funded teaching positions cut, aside from the JROTC positions at De Anza and a middle school counselor position.
However, the loss of the JROTC is being deeply felt by former and current students, as well as the staff, with many shedding tears. De Anza students held walkouts both Wednesday and Thursday to encourage the district to keep the program alive.
“I really got attached to it. I really love this,” said freshman Aylin Tello. “I have learned about leadership, discipline, how to do color guard, learn how to march…I really connected with my classmates and joining this program, you automatically become a family.”
Via an online petition to save the program signed by more than 550 people, former commander and De Anza senior Devin Deleon Escobar wrote, “Through AFJROTC, I participated in enriching trips, built lasting friendships, developed leadership skills, and had the honor of serving as Group Commander. The program has provided structure, discipline, mentorship, and a strong, supportive community that has positively shaped so many students’ lives. For many of us, it has been the highlight of our school experience.”
There are a number of administrative positions being cut, including several principal and assistant principal positions. Some downtown district positions were also cut such as the chief technology officer, communications director, community engagement director, maintenance and operations director and Facilities Planner Design Manager.
Visual and Performing Arts coordinator role cut
One of the most contested cuts by the community was the Visual and Performing Arts coordinator position, currently held by Chris Read.
The position oversees all arts, theater, dance and music education programs across all school sites, as well as Prop. 28 funding. The VAPA coordinator also manages thousands of district-owned instruments, supervises itinerant music teachers, and supports K–12 arts pathways and career-focused programs. The role provides professional development for teachers, helps principals align site plans to district goals, monitors budgets and compliance, and coordinates districtwide festivals and community partnerships.
Those who opposed the cut warned that without the coordinator arts programming could become fragmented and inequitable, with funding at risk of going unspent. They also argued that losing the position could disrupt the district’s award-winning band and orchestra programs and reduce enrollment.
Jessica Olwell, the theater manager at El Cerrito High School, said the district is also opening itself up to potential lawsuits because of how it plans to use Prop. 28 funding.
“Cutting certificated arts teachers with the intention of paying other arts teachers through Prop 28 is currently what (the Los Angeles public school district) is being sued for,” Olwell told the board. “This board and district has proven by their actions time and again that the arts mean nothing to them. There has been egregious misuse of Prop. 28 funding and eliminating the VAPA coordinator position, the only district level advocate for the arts, is irresponsible at best and fraudulent at worst.”
Such a corrupt district, nothing but backroom deals protecting its own, i.e. “contracts” and lifers. Apparently, we didn’t learn in the 90s, and just went right back to corruption and absolute incompetence. The students are the last priority. California, where are you (on their payroll too)?
How many associate superintendent positions are being cut? Those making the decisions are keeping their jobs!
Maybe the board, shouldn’t go to conferences that cost the district $8million. That money alone would cover JrRotc! Our community, our children deserves ALL opportunities of career pathways! The JrRotc program has fulfilled a lot of students dreams! By eliminating JrRotc in 2026, means, this program will NEVER come back to WCCUSD.
The Board is making a SNAP decision will a PERMANENT outcome!
Is this what our students deserve? NO!
Is this what our community deserves?
NO!
Richmond and its surrounding area have a rich legacy of supporting the military! Do not let the WCCUSD School Board convince you that they can’t save the JrRotc program! They can!
The school district has to be broken up. Richmond lacks the tax base to support its schools while areas like Pinole and Hercules have the tax base but suffer the consequences. The state should break apart the district and take over Richmond. When Chevron shutters it’s refinery, the tax base disappears and all that’s left will be one of the biggest Superfund sites in the world. And everyone will say — look at how Richmond mismanaged their city. What a load of crap. For forty years one of the largest companies in the world has underpaid it’s taxes and when they leave they will never pay for the cleanup.
I would love to hear ideas and discussion about what kinds of revenue generation options are available for our community to fund the school services it wants and kids deserve. New bonds, higher taxes, public-private partnerships…let’s consider them all. Cuts can’t be the way to a higher quality, more stable future.