AUHSD Board Weighs $2M in Cuts as Librarians, Staff Plead for Preservation

The Acalanes Union High School District finds itself at a familiar crossroads: too little state funding, rising costs, and a community that expects excellence. At a special budget workshop this week, trustees heard a sobering fiscal picture and impassioned pleas to protect the programs that define the district's identity.

• Staff proposed $2 million in reductions spanning supplies, management, and both classified and certificated positions

• Teacher-librarians urged the Board to preserve site library positions, calling them essential academic and safe-space resources

• Board members signaled strong support for maintaining wellness services and explored potential insurance reimbursement strategies

• Trustees debated whether to pursue a parcel tax in June or November, weighing voter fatigue against urgent fiscal timelines

• A subcommittee of Paul Chopra and Nancy Kendzierski will coordinate with partner districts and return with recommendations

Why it matters: AUHSD's structural deficit stems from a familiar culprit—California's Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) delivers less per-pupil revenue to high-wealth districts, even as labor costs, benefits, and operational expenses climb. Without new revenue or deep cuts, the district faces an unsustainable trajectory.