This scare tactic is used every year by government schools. When the budget process begins, the Boards swear they will have to fire dozens or hundreds of staff and teachers. But, when the final budget is approved, almost NO cuts. In the meantime, they use the lies to beg for money from the State and Feds—they use it as an excuse to promote bonds and parcel taxes. All the while, enrollment and test scores go down.
“Santa Barbara Unified School District (SBUSD) declared it would no longer proceed with layoffs impacting the arts department for the upcoming 2025-26 school year.
The district, facing a $9.4 million budget shortfall, had previously issued 85 Reduction in Force (RIF) notices in March, largely directed at music and arts programs.
Superintendent Hilda Maldonado announced on Friday, May 2, that layoffs for junior high band and Santa Barbara High School theater positions had been rescinded, signifying a significant shift in the district’s approach towards balancing its budget without sacrificing arts education.
However, due to staff transfers, two visual arts positions—one at San Marcos and another at Santa Barbara High—will not be refilled, marking the only reduction in the arts staff.”
Trust what government says? Only if you take the short bus to school.
Santa Barbara Unified School District Cancels Most Staff Layoff Notices
by Edhat Staff, 5/9/25 https://www.edhat.com/news/santa-barbara-unified-school-district-cancels-most-staff-layoff-notices/
Santa Barbara Unified School District (SBUSD) declared it would no longer proceed with layoffs impacting the arts department for the upcoming 2025-26 school year.
The district, facing a $9.4 million budget shortfall, had previously issued 85 Reduction in Force (RIF) notices in March, largely directed at music and arts programs.
Superintendent Hilda Maldonado announced on Friday, May 2, that layoffs for junior high band and Santa Barbara High School theater positions had been rescinded, signifying a significant shift in the district’s approach towards balancing its budget without sacrificing arts education.
However, due to staff transfers, two visual arts positions—one at San Marcos and another at Santa Barbara High—will not be refilled, marking the only reduction in the arts staff.
The planned protest during Tuesday’s meeting was cancelled after Maldonado’s announcement.
During the Board’s meeting on April 8th, students from Santa Barbara High School were expected to sing a song from their upcoming performance of “Hadestown.” Instead, the students stood silently while the music played and held up a sign that read, “If you defund the arts, there won’t be any.”
“If you don’t support the arts, you’re failing our students. How can you prepare us for a world that’s yet to be created if we don’t have access to any creativity? I really hope the adults in charge of our future don’t fail us,” one student said after the music ended.
Superintendent Maldonado shared that after extensive review of enrollment figures, staffing needs, and unfilled positions, SBUSD anticipates the necessity to lay off only 3–5 employees across the board, sparing arts and music teachers and preventing layoffs at the elementary level. This has been achieved through retirements, resignations, transferring employees, and leveraging unfilled roles, not to mention a slight uptick in junior high and high school enrollment figures.
Acknowledging the collaborative efforts with the California School Employees Association (CSEA) and the Santa Barbara Teachers Association (SBTA), Maldonado expressed gratitude for finding a way through the financial constraints without major impacts on staff.
“While we would prefer that no employees are ever laid off, we are thankful for our collaboration with CSEA and SBTA in navigating this challenging period,” Maldonado stated in a public notice.
Despite the relief from reinstating arts positions, the community continues to express concern over the yearly uncertainty caused by the RIF process. Proposed changes to this process aim to reduce the stress and anxiety it generates among staff and families.
The final resolution of the layoff notices and the confirmation of next year’s staffing plan is scheduled for a vote at the May 13 school board meeting.
