Pleasanton Schools Plan for Potential Layoffs

The Pleasanton Unified School District's budget challenges stem from multiple factors, including declining enrollment, the end of one-time COVID relief funds, and rising operational costs. The district's student population has decreased by approximately 1,650 students since 2018, which translates to a significant reduction in state funding that is based on attendance. For the 2025-26 fiscal year, the district's first interim budget was filed with a "Negative Certification," indicating that PUSD may not be able to meet its financial obligations without further action. This has triggered additional oversight from the Alameda County Office of Education, which has appointed a fiscal expert, Kate Lane, to assist the district. The district is facing an anticipated budget shortfall of $8-9 million for the 2026-27 school year. In response, the school board has already approved $11.2 million in budget reductions for that period, with about $5.4 million of that total subject to negotiations with labor unions. PUSD leadership points to a state funding formula, the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), as a core issue, stating that it provides significantly less per-student funding to Pleasanton compared to the average California school district. To address this, the district has joined a statewide coalition called "Raise the Base" to advocate for changes to the state's school funding model.