Tam Union school district approves $2.2M in preliminary layoffs

Trustees of the Tamalpais Union High School District, faced with declining enrollment and a budget deficit, have approved $2.2 million worth of staff cuts.

The board twice voted 4-0 on Tuesday, with trustee Ida Green abstaining each time, to send preliminary warning notices, known as “pink slips,” to more than 11 teachers and other certificated employees and more than 13 clerical, custodial and other classified staff.

“These are folks, and this is their livelihood,” Green said in explaining her two abstentions. “It is a hard decision to make.”

The warning notices will be sent out to meet a state deadline of March 15. The layoffs could be reversed in the spring if there are more retirements or other vacancies over the next few months. The layoffs become final on May 14.

“While this is a technical and legal requirement of school district operations, we recognize the personal impact it has on our valued colleagues,” Wes Cedros, assistant superintendent of human resources, said in announcing the staff cuts. He said the district, by state code, “has to align our staffing with enrollment.”

Cedros said the certificated list includes the equivalent of 10.8 full-time employees. They include one alternative school principal, a school counselor and teachers in French, Spanish, social studies, science, special education, applied technology, performing arts and visual arts.

The classified workers list includes the equivalent of 12.8 full-time positions, including secretaries, clerks, a paraeducator, an attendance clerk, cooks, food service workers, a custodian and a college and career services specialist.

Corbett Elsen, assistant superintendent for finance and operations, told trustees in December that the cuts are necessary to maintain a minimum 17% of annual expenditures in reserves for the current school year and two years out in the district’s $128.8 million general fund budget.

If the reserves dip below the designated amount, the district could face downward budget status impacts from the county and the state, or even changes in the district’s bond rating, Elsen said.

Also at Tuesday’s board meeting, trustees approved a series of personnel changes, including seven resignations.

Kyle Jackson, who was hired in August as intervention coordinator for the Black Student Success Team and the Hub Center at Tamalpais High School, was listed as one of the resignations. He said the resignation was not his decision.

“I want it clearly stated that this resignation is not voluntary and is being submitted under circumstances that were presented to me as a forced outcome following administrative decisions regarding my continued employment with the district,” Jackson said in his resignation letter.

Jackson, a graduate of Tam High and the Sausalito Marin City School District, was expected at the time of his hiring to offer a solution to the controversy last year over management of the Black Student Success Team and the Hub.

After weeks of public protests at board meetings in June and July, trustees voted 3-2 not to renew two contracts totaling $250,000 for consultants Tenisha Tate-Austin and Paul Austin.

Jackson, who had local connections and good references, was recruited by superintendent Courtney Goode to replace the consultants at a salary of $83,800.

Jackson wrote that he lacked the proper support in the job, including “the onboarding, infrastructure and resources necessary for success.”

“Despite limited infrastructure, I worked diligently to build systems, strengthen relationships, and create a culturally responsive environment for students,” he wrote.

At the beginning of February, he was told that his position would not be renewed. He was urged to resign rather than have the nonrenewal on his record.

“While this experience has been extremely challenging, I remain grateful to the students, staff, and community partners who supported the work,” Jackson said.

Goode declined comment except to say the district will hire a new person for the position.

“As the Hub/BSST will remain, we will aggressively recruit a new Intervention Coordinator for the 2026-2027 school year to ensure the students at Tam continue to be supported and well-served,” Goode wrote in an email.