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The Livermore school district will serve layoff notices this month to about 15 full-time equivalents, following the school board’s unanimous approval of the cuts at this week’s meeting.
Employment terminations and reductions to work year are spread across 23 district staff, with the majority being classified employees.
Among the affected positions are about 6.5 FTE paraeducators, 1 FTE director of communications and engagement and the reduction of an athletic trainer at each high school to 0.5 FTE each, down from 0.75 FTE.
The reductions are being made for reasons such as a lack of work and/or a lack of funds, according to the May 12 meeting agenda. The cuts also contribute to Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District savings to help balance its budget for the 2026-27 school year as the district is poised to make $14.8 million in ongoing adjustments and reductions for the upcoming school year.
During the Board of Education meeting May 12, Trustee Christiaan VandenHeuvel noted the gravity of the cuts, beginning with the approval of layoffs to classified employees.
“This is a painful thing,” VandenHeuvel said. “None of us take this lightly and we don’t just vote on a number. We see the names behind that.”
On the subject of classified employee reductions, Trustee Craig Bueno highlighted the importance of the sole athletic trainer at each high school.
“In the absence of that, we will not have the accolades that we are currently celebrating for our athletes,” Bueno said.
He urged the board to consider recuperating some of the axed roles in the future.
Bueno expressed similar sentiments in response to the resolution to reduce certificated positions.
The career technical education teacher of a program dubbed Project Build, poised to receive a layoff notice, benefited some of the most underserved students, Bueno said.
“We were in a really bad fiscal situation, and we had to resolve it — and really good work in doing that — but unfortunately, some things get caught and I want to make sure that we don’t forget these folks,” he said.
Trustee Deena Kaplanis also expressed her support for the Project Build program.
Employees receiving final layoff notices were given preliminary notices by March 15, according to assistant superintendent of human resources Jessica Bonduris.
Members of labor groups California School Employees Association and Service Employees International Union will be placed on a 39-month reemployment list, she added.
There were no public comments on either classified or certificated layoffs.
Prior to the board’s approval of the terminations, Board President Steven Drouin gave a progress update on the ad hoc committee’s work in finding the district’s next superintendent in conjunction with the Alameda County Office of Education.
Since the last board meeting April 21, the community has been polled at an input session and an online survey that garnered responses from 789 individuals, he said. ACOE has met with all board members and has held individual sessions with Drouin and labor partners.
The board is set to review applications in closed session during the last week of May followed by interviews during the last weekend of the month, Drouin said.
Drouin previously scheduled the board’s consideration of a candidate for its June 16 meeting.
The incoming leader is set to replace Acting Superintendent Michelle Pechette who took over during February following the departure of Torie Gibson.
Livermore parent Tara Boyce — who also ran for school board in 2024 — was the sole commenter and expressed an interest in finding an interim superintendent to stabilize the district ahead of a permanent leader.
“There’s a lot of concern out in the community that we might be rushing into something that will not get us the best superintendent placed for the long-term,” Boyce said. “We don’t want a one-and-done again.”
The board initially considered hiring an interim superintendent, but dropped the idea in favor of its current strategy of having an acting superintendent while recruiting a permanent replacement.
