Stockton Unified OKs layoffs for 5 directors, other jobs tied to one-time federal funds

Ben Irwin, The Record
·2 min read
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Stockton Unified School District board president AngelAnn Flores calls a special study session to order at the SUSD Arthur Coleman Jr. Administrative Complex in downtown Stockton on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023. CLIFFORD OTO/THE STOCKTON RECORD
Stockton Unified School District board president AngelAnn Flores calls a special study session to order at the SUSD Arthur Coleman Jr. Administrative Complex in downtown Stockton on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023. CLIFFORD OTO/THE STOCKTON RECORD

Layoffs at the financially embattled Stockton Unified School District were approved at Tuesday's Board of Trustees meeting.

The board voted to approve layoffs for some classified and certificated employees adding up to the time equivalent of 19 full-time positions. Five director-level positions will be cut, including for the family resource center, maintenance and operations, educational services, community relations and business development, and technology. The assistant superintendent of student support services will also be cut.

SUSD Board President AngelAnn Flores told The Record the layoffs are positions funded through Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds, which are one-time federal dollars doled out to the school district in response to COVID-19.

"This is our district and board leadership taking steps to correct that," Flores said.

At a Jan. 24 board meeting where the district fell short of explaining their plans and uses of their nearly $242 million in ESSER funds, Flores said some of the $16 million in ESSER funds bankrolling 163 staff positions was misspent, and the district would "work on that as diligently and as quickly as possible."

Two district directors and an assistant superintendent whose positions are included in the layoffs are already on leave. It is unclear why the three are on leave; district officials declined to comment on personnel matters.

Director of Family Resource Center Motecuzoma Sanchez, the founder of the website 209 Times, has been on paid personal leave since Feb. 14, Meza said.

Feb. 14 was also the day a state auditor released a report revealing evidence that fraud may have taken place in the district's contract dealings and finances. The report centered on a $7.3 million contract for air filter disinfectant technology.

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Director of Maintenance and Operations Armando Orozco has been on paid administrative leave since Oct. 6, 2022, Meza said. In September 2022, Orozco penned a letter to the district demanding $800,000 to "leave your corrupt district in silence."

Assistant Superintendent of Student Support Services Dr. Francine Baird has been on paid personal leave since Feb. 27. Baird turned down the interim superintendent role last year after former SUSD superintendent John Ramirez Jr. resigned.

Board documents show employees will be notified if they are to be laid off by March 15. The layoffs will be effective July 1, 2023. Rounding out the list of positions cut are:

  • Auditor

  • Bilingual assistant

  • Instructional assistant

  • Library media assistant

  • MAIC classified coordinator

  • Office assistant

  • Personnel technician 1

  • Social and emotional wellness coordinator

  • Special education assist/severely mentally handicapped

  • Transportation manager

  • Public safety teaching services

This article originally appeared on The Record: Stockton Unified votes to lay off jobs tied to one-time federal funds