East Side Union High School District is laying off more than 80 workers as its budget deficit grows and enrollment falls.
The cuts could hit the students who rely most on school support staff, and they show what happens when a public institution starts running out of room to serve its own community.
The district has issued pink slips to more than 80 employees, with layoffs set to take effect at the start of the 2026-27 school year. The school board approved the action in late January as the district faced a projected $30 million deficit. Superintendent Glenn Vander Zee said the loss of one-time federal COVID money and a steady drop in enrollment pushed the district into this position.
This story is not mainly about a political stunt or a donor fight. It is about a public institution struggling to keep its basic functions intact. When a school district cannot sustain staffing after a funding drop and enrollment decline, the breakdown is in the institution itself.
Students are the first to feel the damage, especially low-income, homeless, and foster youth who depend on counselors, aides, and other support staff. Families may see larger class stress, slower responses to student needs, and fewer services that help kids stay on track. Workers losing their jobs also lose income and stability in a district already under pressure.
Whether the district can protect the most essential student support roles.
How the layoffs affect attendance, counseling, special support, and classroom stability.
Whether enrollment keeps falling and forces more cuts in later years.