Napa Valley Unified cuts 34 staff positions amid budget pressures
The board voted Thursday to eliminate 10 full-time certificated roles and 24 classified jobs by the end of the school year.
The Napa Valley Unified School District will cut 34 staff positions by the end of this school year to keep its budget on track, the Board of Trustees decided Thursday night.
The reductions will affect counselors, teachers, instructional assistants and child development assistants, among others. In total, the district will eliminate 10 full-time certificated roles and 24 classified jobs, most of which are part-time.
Why the district is making cuts
Superintendent Rosanna Mucetti said the reductions are part of a long-term strategy to keep the district financially stable as student enrollment declines and one-time pandemic relief funding runs out.
“This is the system in place to protect the budget — small and gradual adjustments along the way in response to the data and our reality,” Mucetti said at the meeting.
Assistant Superintendent Rob Mangewala echoed that approach, saying the district aims to make smaller, regular cuts rather than resort to school closures or large-scale layoffs.
Financial outlook, past budget decisions
Napa Valley Unified has a balanced budget for 2024-25, without any program or staff cuts, according to its latest financial report. That sets it apart from some neighboring Sonoma County districts, which have faced school closures and major layoffs due to mounting deficits.
Still, district projections show a $3.7 million deficit in 2025-26 and an $11.5 million shortfall in 2026-27, suggesting more cuts could be necessary in the future.
Officials credit the district’s recent financial stability to past decisions, including the closure of River and Harvest middle schools and Yountville and Mount George elementary schools, which helped avert a budget crisis.
Concerns from employees, trustees
The decision drew limited opposition at the board meeting, though a group of eight district counselors urged the board to reconsider, saying they were blindsided by the elimination of two full-time counseling positions.
“Given the strategic goals of NVUSD and the priority of student health and wellness and college and career readiness, these proposed cuts provide direct opposition to the NVUSD mission,” school counselor Cindy Johnson said. “This will cause damage to our schools and programs across all grade levels.”
The board ultimately approved the cuts, with a unanimous vote on classified positions. Trustee Julianna Hart was the only member to oppose the certificated staff reductions, saying she hoped the district could have preserved positions supporting mental health services.
What happens next
Despite concerns, district leaders expressed optimism that most affected employees will remain in the district through reassignment.
“These employees remain employed by the district, and we are working closely with them to ensure a smooth transition,” said Jackie Clayton, president of California School Employees Association Chapter 380, in an email to The Press Democrat.
The CSEA represents classified employees, while the Napa Valley Educators Association represents certificated staff. NVEA President Deb St. Clair said at the meeting that she hopes the board members understand the impact of their decisions on the employees and their lives.
You can reach Tarini Mehta at 707-521-5337 or tarini.mehta@pressdemocrat.com. On X (Twitter) @MehtaTarini.
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