Balanced Budget Process

1/31/25 from Superintendent

At their meeting on January 22, the Board continued the Budget Reduction discussion and provided final direction to staff before February’s required staffing actions. The changes in the original direction include protecting the Campus Supervisor at Robertson HS and ensuring that the return of Ohlone dual-enrollment reimbursement does not jeopardize funding for materials and supplies needed for those courses. The Board remains focused on prioritizing the student experience while considering the long-term impact of reductions.

District leadership is preparing layoff resolutions in accordance with the law; the deadline is the end of February. FUSD hopes to rescind at least some layoffs as the spring budget cycle unfolds, but it must take this preliminary step to provide the most flexibility.  The Board meets twice in February: on February 12 and February 26. HR Leadership will submit formal layoff action to the Board for approval prior to the March 15 deadline.

Video of Meeting

1/8/25 Regular Meeting of the Board of Education

At the Board of Education’s regular board meeting on January 8, the Board reviewed the recommended reductions and provided the staff direction on achieving $24.7 million to balance the budget. As anticipated, the most robust conversation involved getting to an agreement on the reductions in Step 7 - the final $3 million - of the Proposed Reduction Steps (slides 21-23). The Board asked clarifying questions and shared feedback as they continued to prioritize the student experience.

January 8, 2025 Board Meeting Reduction Deck (Updated Presentation) | Video of Meeting

12/20/24 from Superintendent

At the Board of Education’s regular meeting on December 18, Budget Director James Arcala presented the first interim budget report, which included a more accurate projection based on actual spending. I presented updated cut targets based on this report and proposed budget cut items, organized by funding category and ease of implementation. The Board asked clarifying questions and shared feedback, which our staff will take into account as we prepare our final recommendations for the next board meeting on January 8, 2025.

Thank you to those who have shared feedback in the re-opened budget input portal (now closed) – the Trustees have received copies of the input before the December 18 discussion. After reviewing the updated reduction scenarios, please continue to provide specific feedback, which the Trustees will receive before the January 8 decision. The portal will remain open until Friday, January 3, 2025.

11/22/24 from Superintendent

At their regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday (Nov 20), the Board got their first look at the budget reduction scenarios informed by community input in October. A video of the discussion is available here. The Board and district leadership are dedicated to engaging in meaningful discussions about becoming a more efficient organization while safeguarding the heart of what makes FUSD special. By leaning on our collective resilience and exploring opportunities to secure ongoing funding, FUSD is confident it can navigate these challenges and emerge stronger together. After reviewing the reduction scenarios, please visit the re-opened budget input portal and provide specific feedback.

11/18/24 Update on Balanced Budget Process from Superintendent (parentsquare.com)

PLEASE NOTE Scenarios Slides: Behind each of these scenarios are people whose contribution and humanity we value as a member of our FUSD family. Reductions are never easy. FUSD leadership present this comprehensive deck with the somberness and humility it deserves. We invite readers to recognize the painstaking care and creativity with which it was designed in an effort to minimize or delay the negative impacts as best as possible.