San Diego Unified School District News Releases: SD UNIFIED OFFERS NEW POSITIONS TO 69 EMPLOYEES AS RESULT OF AGREEMENTS REACHED WITH 3 LABOR GROUPS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: James Canning

SD UNIFIED OFFERS NEW POSITIONS TO 69 EMPLOYEES AS RESULT OF AGREEMENTS REACHED WITH 3 LABOR GROUPS
Board of Education to Recognize Classified School Employees Week at May 12th Meeting

SAN DIEGO (MAY 11, 2026) – San Diego Unified is offering all 69 employees who in March were at-risk of being laid off an opportunity to accept a new position in the school district. This latest news is the result of tentative agreements reached between the district and three chapters of the California School Employees Association (CSEA). On Tuesday, March 12 the district’s Board of Education will vote on the agreements and introduce a resolution to recognize Classified School Employees Week.

“Students are the priority for everyone who works in our district; we are glad to have reached a compromise that provides us the ability to maintain our strong public education services while also creating new opportunities for valued staff and colleagues,” said Superintendent Fabi Bagula, Ph.D., San Diego Unified. “For those who choose to stay with us under this new agreement, as they move into their new roles we will provide expanded training and workforce development support to ensure a successful transition.”

Path to Agreement Between San Diego Unified with CSEA Chapters

An innovative staffing approach was developed by San Diego Unified’s Human Resources Department in partnership with the school district’s budget review team. They identified vacancies in the 2026-27 school year where the 69 employees who otherwise would have been laid off could apply for a new position with the district. Between April 22 and Friday, May 1, 2026 tentative agreements were reached between San Diego Unified and Chapter 724 Operations-Support Services (OSS), Chapter 788 Office-Technical and Business Services (OTBS), and Chapter 759 Paraeducators (PARA).

Highlights of the agreements that benefit San Diego Unified employees include retaining healthcare benefits, training, workforce development, and preservation of all contractual rights.

Honoring Classified Employees Week

Classified employees from OTBS, PARA and OSS will be honored with a resolution sponsored by President Barrera and Trustee Sharon Whitehurst-Payne of the Board of Education as the school district celebrates May 17-23 as Classified School Employees Week.

Excerpts are as follows:

“...WHEREAS, classified employees contribute immensely to the health, safety, and well-being of students through their dedication and professionalism in carrying out their many and varied job responsibilities assisting children and young people in classrooms and through valuable support services; and

WHEREAS, the district’s academic programs and other educational opportunities are provided to all students enrolled in district schools with the unfailing support of all classified employees working in all job classifications…”

Trustee Whitehurst-Payne said, “Our classified employees are essential to everything we do. Their steady dedication and the many roles they serve each day help create safe, welcoming schools where students can learn, grow, and thrive. We are deeply grateful for the impact they make across our entire school community.”

Final Nuts & Bolts of New Labor Partner Agreements

As part of San Diego Unified’s strategy to streamline its workforce to create efficiencies, Board of Education Trustees are required in accordance with California Education Code, to issue a final vote during this same May 12 meeting on the elimination of Classified positions throughout the organization. This does not affect the agreements with the three chapters of CSEA.

Prior to the tentative agreements that provided opportunities for position, about 10 employees filed for a hearing to dispute their layoff. The hearings were scheduled by the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) for May 15. School district officials hope those employees will forgo their hearings due to the agreements, but that will not be known until a later date.

To learn more about San Diego Unified School District, visit: www.SanDiegoUnified.org.

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