Many school districts are forced to turn to layoffs in order to close large budget deficits. Every year, many staff members receive pink slips as early as March, and while some are rescinded by the time May rolls around, some are still on the chopping block. This year, BUSD is slated to lay off twenty-one staff members, and whether notices are rescinded or not, this yearly process brings undue stress to educators and district employees.

“Regardless of how early districts begin their own planning, they’re not going to know until July how much money they’re actually going to get from the state,” said Sara Hinkley, the California program manager for UC Berkeley’s Center for Cities and Schools.