In recent weeks, Anaheim Union High School District trustees voted to potentially cut more than 100 teaching positions — and AUHSD isn’t the only school district grappling with layoffs on the horizon.

A wave of layoffs might seem like a shock, but this is an annual occurrence for school districts.

Every spring, California school districts assess what is needed — or not needed — for their schools. If there are financial constraints or enrollment declines, a district may need to implement staff layoffs.

Layoffs can affect both certificated jobs — positions that require a certificate to be qualified for the role; teachers, counselors and principals fall under this category — and classified positions — where a certain certificate is not required, like office staff, custodians and food service workers. Temporary and probational employees also can be eliminated.

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If layoffs are deemed a potential necessity, districts must notify impacted staff by March 15 each school year. The final list of what positions are being cut must be done by May 15. (Finalized lists only involve those first notified in March.)

The timeline of when these notices are given revolves around the release of the state budget, which directly affects how public education funds can be spent. Roughly 40% of California’s budget is used toward public education, meaning education gets more money when the state’s economy is strong but potentially less during declines — as might be the case this year.

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In January, Gov. Gavin Newsom shared the budget proposal, showing that the state is projected to face an over $37 billion deficit.

A more accurate picture of the state’s 2024-25 budget will be unveiled in May, but districts and charter schools are preparing to have less funding to work with than in previous years, “even as they’re dealing with inflation pressures and other rising operational costs, like pensions and increasing health and welfare benefits premiums,” said Orange County Department of Education spokesperson Ian Hanigan.

And until a more complete budget is framed, districts must take precautionary measures — like making plans for staffing cuts — in the meantime, Hanigan said.

“These notices can be stressful for school employees, but it’s important to remember this is not a final decision,” Hanigan said. “Once districts know more about the state budget, many educators and staff who received notices in March will find out that they still have their jobs.”

“Think of it as a necessary procedural step that allows local educational agencies to maintain operational flexibility in light of uncertain financial prospects,” Hanigan said.

Positions that are reduced by districts don’t always mean that an employee is going to be jobless. Employees could be reassigned to different positions or have their working hours adjusted.

And certain positions that have been eliminated may have already been vacant. Resignations and retirements could also lead to the retention of more employees.

According to California Teachers Association president David Goldberg, about 1,600 California teachers and school staff have received layoff notices in the last month, something he said is a “massive increase” from previous years.

“This is a traumatic and stressful experience for any educator, and layoffs ultimately harm students and our communities,” Goldberg said. “While our union works to ensure that all educators’ rights are maintained in this process across the state, we are also calling on districts to rescind these layoff notices and bring back educators for the next school year.”

Goldberg said that districts should be “exhausting their reserves and looking for other ways to balance their budgets” before laying off school staff.

“Our students deserve fully staffed schools,” Goldberg said. “Now is not the time to be laying off educators.”

What does this look like in Orange County?

Many school districts in Orange County in the last few months have reported tentative plans for layoffs, with some citing a decline in their district’s enrollment.

From the 2016-17 school year until the 2022-23 school year, public school enrollment has decreased by over 10% in Orange County, from 490,430 students to 441,249 students, California Department of Education data shows. Of the nine school districts listed below, enrollment declines ranged from 6.4% in the Fountain Valley School District to 19.5% in Ocean View School District.

Anaheim Union High School District

On March 7, trustees approved one of the biggest teacher layoffs in the county this year. AUHSD spokesperson John Bautista said that as of March 20, 119 teachers have been notified.

The district estimates that would reduce costs by about $18.4 million.

“Declining student enrollment and ongoing financial pressures necessitate difficult decisions ahead,” said Michael Matsuda, the AUHSD superintendent.

District officials said that enrollment has declined by nearly 5,000 students since the 2011-12 school year.

Addressing notions that teachers may have been “targeted for layoffs,” Matsuda said: “Contrary to popular belief, we have worked tirelessly to prioritize retention of all staff members, including teachers.”

On Thursday, March 14, students and parents at Brookhurst Junior High School held a school walkout and marched to AUHSD’s offices, half a mile away, to protest the layoff decision.

AUHSD parent Germaine Neumann-Chau blamed the district for what she called “financial mismanagement.”

“AUHSD spends millions of dollars on non-classroom things,” said Neumann-Chau. “Just last month they spent thousands of dollars on an artificial intelligence symposium, and yet they are cutting the one position that has direct contact with our students. I would really like them to reevaluate the district’s priorities and look at all the other items that could be cut before our teachers.”

Capistrano Unified School District

In February, the board released its preliminary plans to cut 14 classified positions, 10 of which are full-time. Three preschool classes could be cut and five would move to a half-day from a full day because of low enrollment.

Centralia Elementary School District

Ten classified positions could be eliminated, the board said on March 13. Six of these positions include custodians.

Fountain Valley School District

In March, the board said three guidance technician positions may be cut.

Fullerton School District

The district’s board may cut 11 classified positions, including custodians, gardeners, student success liaisons and other office staff.

Los Alamitos Unified School District

Twelve classified positions were noticed as potential cuts, including math and science, physical education and media center positions.

Ocean View School District

One classified early learning educator position was marked as a potential cut. According to the school board’s agenda report, that is projected to save the district about $18,756.

Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District

No layoffs are expected, and no pink slips have been handed out to any teachers or administrators, PYLUSD Superintendent Alex Cherniss said.

“At a time when other school districts in Orange County are laying off teachers, new enrollment in PYLUSD is booming,” Cherniss said.

During the 2016-17 school year, PYLUSD had more than 25,700 students enrolled, and in 2022-23, that number dropped to 23,138. But Cherniss said that based on the district’s most updated enrollment numbers on transitional kindergarten and kindergarten for next year, enrollment is projected to rise.

From Jan. 1 to March 13, PYLUSD had 226 new transitional kindergarten and kindergarten students. During the same period for the same grades in 2024, PYLUSD had 634 new students enrolled, a 180% increase.

Transitional kindergarten and kindergarten enrollment is the “best indicator” of enrollment growth and trends, Cherniss said, because “these students are with a district for 12 years and indicate new family growth trends for districts and communities.”

The district’s March report on resignations, hirings and retirements — which is separate from spring layoffs — said seven teachers and administrators, including a principal and assistant principal in the district, have resigned. Posts on social media, however, say even more principals in the district have been forced out; Cherniss denied their accuracy.

“Every school district has typical employment matters, which often coincide with a statutory March 15 deadline,” Cherniss said. “Our school district is no different.”

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On Wednesday, March 20, PYLUSD students held a walkout amid rumors of teachers and administration leaving the district. Students from Esperanza High School also encouraged community members to sign an ongoing petition asking the district not to terminate the positions of principals and staff. As of March 21, the petition had garnered more than 1,200 signatures.

Esperanza High School senior Katie Chau says the PYLUSD board “refuses to be transparent regarding certain changes throughout the district.”

“I feel undermined, unheard and frustrated as a student who deeply cares for the well-being of the community,” Chau said. “I cannot tolerate the biased decisions of the unqualified and inept board members who attempt to incorporate their own political beliefs into the public education system.”

Saddleback Valley Unified School District

Three classified positions are anticipated to be cut: a community services assistant coordinator, a custodian and an account clerk for the Associated Student Body, which coordinates schools’ social events.