Staff, unions and parents warn furloughs and cuts would harm restricted programs and services

Dozens of staff members, union representatives, principals and parents used the public‑comment period Feb. 11 to press the Sacramento City Unified School District board to avoid furloughs and program cuts that they said would harm students and risk compliance with restricted grants.

Garrett Kirkland, speaking for United Professional Educators (UPE), said several plan components conflicted with negotiated contracts and accused the board of previously advancing a resolution despite counsel advice that it violated the Brown Act. "Changes of this magnitude without bargaining are not procedural oversights. They are failures to follow the law," he said.

Principals presented district salary and benefit breakdowns to argue that administrators represent a small share of total salary costs. "SCTA members represent over 60% of salary and benefit spending," principal Laura Butler said, adding that administrative reductions produce minimal fiscal benefit but large operational disruption.

Program leads described the limits of restricted funding. Glenalyn Pacheco (Youth Development Support Services) explained that Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP) funds support more than 70 sites and include staffing and compliance requirements; furloughing ELOP‑funded staff, she said, risks losing program capacity and might require returning unspent state funds. Eric Dela Cruz (nutrition services) said furloughing positions funded by USDA/CDE sources "provides 0 cost savings to the general fund" and warned that cutting the department now would undermine a self‑sustaining meal program that also contributes indirect revenue to the district.

Parents and teachers also urged preserving Edward Kelly parent‑participation preschool and known community programs. Several speakers said a flat 20% cut to departments would dismantle multi‑year Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways and could cause students to leave the district.

The board heard the testimony and during deliberations directed staff to prioritize unrestricted general‑fund solutions, avoid actions that would violate contracts or jeopardize restricted grants, and return with monthly, itemized updates on savings that are both implementable and legally sound.