Layoff notices for dozens of Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) employees will be sent out March 15. Final notice will not be issued until mid-May, as pressure builds within the region to rescind the budget cuts.

Hundreds packed in to the Grossmont High School gym for the latest board meeting on March 11 to urge the board to rethink the decision to turn first to staff cuts rather than other parts of the budget ahead of a potential $2.5 million deficit. None spoke in favor of the layoffs.

Sixty-one staff members are on the chopping block, including assistant and vice principals, special education teachers, counselors, and nearly all the librarians in the district. Forty-nine of the affected staff members are for positions requiring credentials. A childcare center for teen parents also used by staff parents is expected to close.

Only layoffs of permanent staff needed to go before the board. For newer staff members, the district could simply decline to re-elect to hire them for another year.

“My worry is there are more people not re-elected,” said one such teacher, Dora. For the Mt. Miguel mild-moderate special needs teacher, being let go after three years of working at the school means other case managers will have to see the teacher’s 25 students through graduation. “I love working with my students. I want to see them graduate… I don’t want to go. It’s a real bummer.”

More people showed up to the board meeting on March 11 than the chaotic special board meeting on Feb. 28 when the board voted 4-1 for the proposed layoffs. Elite security guards kept the meeting orderly, with people ordered to stay in their seats and only allowed entrance with a ticket. Outside in the rain, others picketed with signs.

Earlier that day, staff held a protest during morning drop-offs. At noon, hundreds of students across all nine district schools walked out of class to protest the layoffs. Many students spoke during public comments, pleading about how this would harm their education. Some threatened more walkouts, which could become expensive for Grossmont Union as funds are based on class attendance.

The meeting began with former Superintendent Mike Fowler announcing he will step down from the position as of March 13 to continue fighting a brain tumor. He has been on medical leave since late 2024.

Sandra Huezo had a rocky start to her extended term as Interim Superintendent. After Fowler’s video announcement, she gave a speech about the district’s recommended budget cuts, summarizing an email she sent to staff previously. When it became clear Huezo would not be offering new information, the entire audience stood and turned their backs on her for the duration of her presentation.

Compared to other districts in California and San Diego, GUHSD is in good financial standing, even without cuts, to withstand a possible recession and a state budget deficit that could result in less revenue for the district – although Governor Gavin Newsom’s budget so far, which will be revised in May, did not slash education funds.

“The board is positioned to withstand the economic headwinds coming through, as well as management of its reserves, attrition and necessary budget reductions,” said Interim Assistant Superintendent of Business Services, Pearl Iizuka in a breakdown of the budget.

Voice of San Diego reported that of the school districts in San Diego with declining enrollment, GUHSD had the lowest rate by far at 1.8% — compared to 9% total decline across the 38 county districts. Grossmont Union also has four times the state required amount of the budget in reserves at $30 to $45 million.

In comparison, San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) had a much larger projected deficit of $176 million and faster declining enrollment. Despite making tens of millions of cuts to make a balanced budget, the district is sending out less than 30 layoff notices, with claims those layoffs “likely” will not be made official in May.

Librarians in attendance, from multiple schools, complained the board members did not respond to invitations to tour their facilities, learn about their work or speak to them. “I’m guessing it’s much easier to destroy what you do not know. You have not spent time in our libraries,” said Suzanne Sannwald, teacher librarian at Valhalla High School during a capped 40-minutes of public comments. The remaining 42 speakers had the opportunity to speak after board business concluded, with the board remaining until 9:15 p.m.

Parents, students, teachers, and concerned citizens, showed up to oppose the board. Even alumni came out to support staff, with one Granite Hills graduate, Tim Conolly, sharing his psychologist and librarian kept him safe from relentless bullying. “Most days, they were part of the only reason I even bothered to show up, which, you guessed it, put money in the district’s pocket,” Conolly said. “They are not replaceable with uncredentialed clerks that you can pay less.”

Relations between the audience and the board became testy.

After a recess, board president Dr. Gary Woods said, “Positive expressions are welcome. Negative expressions will result in timeout,” comparing the audience to kindergarteners. He later apologized for the emotional outburst. The final speaker of the night, Gavin, challenged the board’s efforts to police the audience’s politeness after years of failed communication with the community. “We have written letters, sent emails, created websites, invited dialog, attended board meetings… made many public comments before the board, and you haven’t listened or responded to us. So we assume we must speak louder.”

The next scheduled board meeting is on Thursday, April 24 at 6 p.m.

Top photo: The audience stood and turned their backs to Interim Superintendent Sandra Huezo as she explained the budget cuts. (Photo by Drew Sitton)