What's Ahead for PUSD: What We Know & Don't Yet Know
We understand that the budget reductions that PUSD will make for the 2026-2027 school year are causing some uncertainty for you as you plan for the next school year. Although there are still a lot of unknowns, there are some things that we can expect. Included in this update is information about budget reductions, Superintendent’s Facilities Advisory Committee, and a proposed Superintendent’s Consolidation Advisory Committee.
The Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) reviewed PUSD’s First Interim Budget Report and Fiscal Stabilization Plan (FSP), and their analysis is that PUSD should be able to meet its financial obligations for the current fiscal year and subsequent two fiscal years. They, therefore, gave PUSD a positive certification. PUSD will need to provide a detailed update on the implementation of the FSP with its Second Interim Report on March 16.
In the meantime, PUSD leadership is planning for cutbacks at the Central Office. Although we do not know what those will look like yet, we do know that like pre-COVID times, school sites will share Community Assistants, nurses, Teachers on Special Assignments, and librarians. Magnet school teachers received special training in their magnet theme, so even though magnets might lose their “special” teacher, current teachers will implement the themed curriculum.
In California, school districts are legally required to send Reduction in Force (RIF) notices to teachers and other certificated employees by March 15. These preliminary notices indicate potential layoffs for the following school year, but the final notices are typically issued in May. Since RIF notices are based on seniority, if PUSD needs to reduce its teaching staff, the newest teachers are the first to receive notices. PTAs and Annual Funds cannot use their funds to keep a specific teacher.
The PUSD Superintendent’s Facilities Advisory Committee (SFAC) held its kick-off meeting on 1/14, and will meet bi-monthly, with the next meeting scheduled for 1/28. The committee includes parents, community members, staff, Board members, and labor partner representatives. It is charged with helping to align the District’s voter-approved Measure O and Measure R bond programs, capital outlay planning, insurance recovery, asset management, and long-term facilities strategies.
The 5-Year Bond Program Plan is being updated to account for new funding, including insurance recovery funds for damaged and destroyed properties, as well as changing district conditions and construction costs. Committee input will help provide a "real-world" check on facilities planning information and ideas, to identify equity, access or operational impacts, and to strengthen recommendations before they move forward to the School Board for approval. SFAC members, agendas, and presentation slides can be found at pusd.us/sfac.
At the School Board meeting this coming Thursday, 1/22, there will be a presentation of a proposed planning process, and a request for approval of a professional services agreement with Total School Solutions, to conduct a comprehensive school closure/consolidation study. The timeline is ambitious with the formation of a Superintendent’s Consolidation Advisory Committee, 7 meetings beginning in February, and a final recommendation to the Board of Education in May 2026. Read the Board agenda and the presentation here.
We’ll post information as we get it, and encourage you to stay informed, speak up, and advocate for the school district you want not just today, but for our future students.