The San Diego Unified School District is cutting jobs and vacant positions in an effort to close a $47 million budget gap next school year. The district says about 70 employees could ultimately lose their jobs as part of the cost-saving plan. District leaders said the cuts are designed to keep re ductions as far away from the classroom as possible, but union leaders and affected workers argue students will still feel the impact. “They have the person who sees them at the gate, the person who feeds them, the person who drives them to school,” said Union Chapter President Dawn Basques. “And now they’re just going to be gone.” Basques said the classified employees receiving notices include janitors, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, special education aides and teacher aides. About 30 speakers addressed the issue during Tuesday night’s San Diego Unified School Board meeting. “I have been a bus driver for over five years,” one employee said. “We will not stand idle anymore and watch you contribute to the dismantling of education.” A staff supporter added, “As someone who was once a shop steward for my union and represented and served night custodians, para educators, and office staff who knows their work that no one seems to appreciate, I ask, why?” Superintendent Fabiola Bagula said this time of year is often challenging for school districts. SDUSD anticipates being able to reassign about half of the educators in the positions being cut. That would leave roughly 70 employees facing layoffs. “Why is it that those of us that earn the least are the first to go?” asked a para educator. “Classified staff are not expendable line items on a spreadsheet. They are the backbone of our schools.” Preliminary layoff notices must go out by March 15 and are finalized in May. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication. ...read more read less