Union members from the California School Employees Association Newman-Crows Landing Chapter 551 spoke about their concerns of recent layoff notices during the Newman-Crows Landing Unified School District Board of Education meeting last Monday.

Last month, the Board of Trustees voted 3-2 to cut 17 classified and certificated staff positions. Those positions affected include a high school teacher, account clerk, instructional aide, account clerk, campus supervisor and program facilitator.  

During public comment, three CSEA members spoke to the board about their experiences working in the district and how the layoffs will impact day-to-day operations.

Jeremy Panelli, a campus supervisor at Orestimba High School, was the first speaker. Panelli urged the board to reconsider the decision to reduce the campus supervisor position.

During his time at OHS, Panelli said he’s responded to multiple emergency situations. He recalled a moment where he disarmed a student with a knife that led to him dealing with minor-injuries. Another moment he mentioned was responding to an emergency of a student that was hit by a car where he had to identify them for the school to contact their parents. That incident he said was “one of the worst days of my six-year long career.”

“It’s no secret that less safety staff will not help either,” Panelli said. “I hope what I’m saying isn’t coming across as fear mongering … I want to make sure that those of you at the top can see the whole picture of this position for you at the top to see the hole in this position.”

Following Panelli was Claudia Diaz, a bilingual instructional aide at Von Renner Elementary and CSEA President. Diaz began by thanking Assistant Superintendent Jesse Ceja for assisting Brittney Clark, vice president for CSEA and librarian at Orestimba, and her in accompanying him in handing out potential layoff notices at various school sites last week.

While holding back her emotions, Diaz said “it didn’t stop the worrying nor the tears” of staff members. “The morale is low, and you can feel it on every campus,” she said.

Melanie Gomes, a program facilitator at Yolo Middle School, said there are two individuals, including herself, that serve the position across the district. Some of the things she’s done include supporting students in an individualized education program, assisting short-staffed mild-moderate and moderate-severe special education classrooms, Gomes said.

She added that she and her colleague currently deal with over 30 caseloads of students.That workload, she said, could increase to over 60 students with the layoffs.

“Instructional aides, clerks, campus supervisors, custodians, all these positions were created and filled because there was need for support,” Gomes said. “Laying off these positions does not change that need. It only makes it more difficult for students and the staff left behind to fill that void while still doing their own job.”  

One of the reasons for the layoffs is the district’s declining enrollment in recent years, according to Superintendent Justin Pruett. According to the first interim report presented in a Dec.11 special meeting, NCLUSD had 2,981 enrollees this school year. It’s expected to decrease next year at a projected 2,921 enrollees.

Declining enrollment has not only been a districtwide issue, but a statewide matter. According to data from the California Department of Education, annual enrollment has declined since the 2017-18 school year. Last year, the state had 5.8 million enrollees.

Some school districts statewide have begun laying off its staff members. Fresno Unified School District recently sent out 250 layoffs notices. Modesto City Schools authorized to cut 30 positions. Sacramento City Unified School District plans to cut 800 positions. 

Additionally, the district is dealing with a nearly $5 million deficit.  

Pruett said when he took over as the district superintendent in January 2024, he didn’t want to “become the superintendent that cuts jobs.”

“I’ve known them, each one of them (district staff members), for quite a long time, and I guess I would be remiss if I didn’t say that I feel bad for how they feel. I truly do,” Pruett said. “I wish financial times were better in our state.”