Ukiah Unified to consider cutting about 20 teaching and counseling positions

UKIAH, CA., 2/25/26 – The Ukiah Unified School District Board of Education will consider downsizing roughly 20 teaching and counseling positions and more than six additional non-teaching staff positions for the 2026-27 school year when it meets Thursday evening.
 
The meeting agenda the proposed reduction of around 20 positions are “due to declining enrollment, related fiscal impacts, and the elimination of certain instructional programs.”
 
According to a resolution released by the district Wednesday afternoon, the positions include both filled and vacant roles. 

Positions affecting current employees include one science teacher, one math teacher, one English language arts teacher, one Ukiah Independent Study Academy teacher, a part-time photography teacher, and three full-time and one part-time multiple subject teachers, according to the district.
 
The resolution also calls for eliminating seven vacant positions, including one math teacher, two kindergarten teachers, one resource teacher, one reading teacher, one third-grade teacher and one transitional kindergarten teacher. The district also proposes eliminating two filled counselor positions and three vacant counselor positions at the management level.
 
While the agenda points to declining enrollment as one reason for the cuts, UUSD spokesperson Dan Dougherty said any layoffs or position eliminations would come as a matter of normal vetting.

“This is not driven by broad enrollment decline. Overall enrollment is statistically steady,” Dougherty said in an email Wednesday. “Staffing must be adjusted each year based on how students are distributed across grade levels, course requests and program needs.”

The board is also scheduled to consider voting on eliminating more than six non-teaching positions due to “expiration of a specially funded program, lack of funds, or a bona fide reduction or elimination of services.”
 
Another resolution released Wednesday night states that UUSD would eliminate one districtwide school-based mental health social worker position, a child care assistant at Small Wonders preschool, a preschool teacher at YokNok, and five paraprofessional positions across multiple campuses, three of which are currently vacant.
 
In a separate item, the board will consider eliminating two of three algebra teaching positions at Ukiah High School. The agenda cites program evaluation as the reason for the elimination recommendation.

The math positions are funded through the district’s Local Control and Accountability Plan, which directs additional state funding toward programs that support higher-need students. According to the agenda, “staff will continue to look for other solutions that will support student learning and achievement in math.”

Dougherty said the notices are part of the routine annual staffing process required of school districts statewide.

“As with districts across California, preliminary layoff and non-reelect notices are required by law at this time of year,” Dougherty said. “These notices are part of a statutory process tied to staffing alignment and projections for the upcoming school year.”

According to Dougherty, the proposed laying off of the nearly 10 current teaching positions comprises 2.7% of the certified teaching staff, which totals 353.
 
The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at the district service center boardroom, 511 S. Orchard Ave., Ukiah or can be watched online at https://www.youtube.com/@uusdlive8940/streams. More information and board agendas can be found at https://www.uusd.net/apps/pages/abouttheboard.  

This article has been updated to include comments from the school district and information on what positions may be cut.

This is a developing story.