PRJUSD approves job reductions to address $3.9M budget deficit

By Camille DeVaul · Wed Mar 11 2026

Declining enrollment and loss of COVID-era funding prompt cuts

PASO ROBLES — Trustees had the difficult decision Tuesday to approve a reduction in positions for the 2026–27 school year. During the March 10 Paso Robles Joint Unified School District meeting, the board approved the job reduction in response to the district's $3.9 million budget deficit.

Declining enrollment and loss of one-time funding the district received during COVID-19 is leading the district to reduce its expenses by $2.75 million. To do this, staff proposed a list of potential job cuts that includes five elementary school teachers, one high school counselor at Paso Robles High School, and a number of paraeducators.

PRJUSD Superintendent Jennifer Loftus said she received the public's feedback and concerns of losing counselors and therapy options for students saying, "Our school counselors are incredibly important."

She did want to clarify that while she agrees students need therapeutic counseling, but that school counselors are not meant to provide long-term therapy.

According to the American School Counselor Association National Model, school counselors are not responsible for providing ongoing, long-term mental health therapy. Instead, their role is to offer short-term, goal-focused counseling that helps remove barriers to students’ academic, career, and social-emotional success.

The public expressed a lot of concern over those cuts, especially the counselors, especially the impact it could have on students whose first language is not English.

Trustee Leo Castillo shared this concern, "This is not easy, and it's not fun for anybody ... I understand it needs to happen or be looked at, I again worry about the future of the supports that we provide to our Hispanic population."

Loftus did want the public and trustees to know that counseling resources will still be available for students and that each elementary site has a full-time school psychologist.

An informational item was presented later in the meeting regarding a potential agreement with the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI), a statewide effort to expand behavioral health support for children, youth, and families in California schools. The initiative provides funding to help establish systems that integrate mental health services directly into school campuses.

Trustee Nathan Williams stated that if the district can get back into a balanced budget, then they can explore bringing these services back.

"This is not what we want," Williams said. "This is in way what we have to do."

Overall, the reductions relieved just over $3 million from the general fund budget.

Employees affected will be placed on a 39-month rehire list and will be offered positions for which they are qualified as they become available, with opportunities extended in order of seniority during that period.

The next Paso Robles Joint Unified School District meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 24, at 6 p.m.