Board Tackles $2M in Staff Cuts as Parents Rally to Save Choir Program

The Acalanes Union High School District Governing Board on Feb. 18 laid out the painful math of declining enrollment and shrinking budgets — presenting draft resolutions to cut roughly 9.0 certificated positions and several classified roles — while parents packed the meeting to plead for the Campolindo choir program. The board also approved updated school safety plans covering drugs, hate incidents, absenteeism and social media, and greenlit bargaining proposals with both district unions.

• Draft resolutions target 9.0 FTE certificated and multiple classified positions as part of a $2 million ongoing reduction; action vote set for March 4

• Choir parents deliver emotional testimony urging creative funding to preserve all six sections of Campolindo's 300-student program

• Comprehensive school safety plans approved 5-0, adding immigration enforcement protocols, pandemic contingency plans and Narcan deployment across all campuses

• Bargaining proposals with SEIU Local 1021 and AEA both approved 5-0; salary and benefits already settled, signaling a short negotiation season

• Three new members appointed to the Measures G&A Citizens Oversight Committee from a pool of 15 applicants

Why it matters: For the second straight year, falling enrollment is forcing the district to trim its workforce — and with more than 80% of costs tied to personnel, there is no way around it. The draft resolutions, if adopted March 4, would eliminate positions that directly touch student support, instruction and operations.