Impassioned pleas from teachers, parents, and community members filled the room at the Plumas Unified School District (PUSD) board meeting on February 11th in Quincy, as the district considered sweeping personnel reductions aimed at addressing a severe financial crisis.
The proposed cuts — affecting certificated, classified, and administrative staff — were presented as part of a Fiscal Stabilization Plan designed to restore the district’s long-term financial health.
During the meeting, the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) reviewed findings from a Comprehensive Review completed on December 23, 2025. The report confirmed that PUSD faces significant fiscal challenges, including a structural deficit, cash insolvency, and an inability to meet the state-required reserve levels.
Interim Chief Business Official Stephanie Shatto presented the district’s Fiscal Stabilization Plan, explaining that under Assembly Bill 2756 and direction from the County Administrator, PUSD is required to adopt a formal plan outlining ongoing reductions to correct its financial instability. The district’s reduction target is $9.5 million.
Shatto emphasized that the plan was developed with input from staff and community surveys, student surveys, administrative collaboration, and listening sessions held in Portola, Chester, Greenville, and Quincy.
“This is the final version that will be adopted and used as a road map,” Shatto stated. “Decisions made today are hard, but then we won’t have to come back again and again.”
The district outlined extensive personnel reductions projected to save approximately $8 million, with an additional $1.5 million in cuts to be determined following the 2026–27 interim report.
Proposed reductions include:
Elimination of unnecessary vacancies, saving an estimated $1,855,330
Reduction or discontinuance of 12 full-time teachers, 5 part-time Career Technical Education (CTE) teachers and part-time PE teacher
Cuts to classified services, including:
1 administrative assistant
2 attendance clerks
1 behavioral health specialist
4 bus drivers
2 cook managers
4 custodians
6 library media specialists
14 paraprofessionals
4 student services coordinators
Reduction of one principal position at Quincy Elementary, as the district consolidates Pioneer and Alder campuses into a single site.
During public comment, speakers urged the board to prioritize students and seek collaborative solutions that would minimize harm to classrooms. Many warned that increasing class sizes would negatively impact student achievement.
Speakers appealed to the County Administrator to “do what research and common sense demand,” emphasizing that schools are the foundation of community strength. Several expressed concern that repeated reductions could permanently alter the character and quality of local schools.“Students need to thrive in these lean times, not just survive,” one speaker said. Another cautioned, “When you cut, you bleed — and you risk losing the definition of your school.”
Despite community opposition, County Administrator Richard DuVarney approved all proposed cuts.
Areas under review include:
Reducing or eliminating nonessential contracted services
Reviewing consultant and service agreements
Limiting travel, conferences, and discretionary departmental budgets
Reviewing subscription/licensing costs
Restricting overtime and extra-duty assignments
Moving stipends and other expenses to possible grants
Next steps outlined in the Fiscal Stabilization Plan include additional fine-tuning of projections, staffing impacts, operational adjustments, and implementation timelines will occur. These refinements will be informed by updated financial data and meaningful collaboration with all educational partners, including staff, bargaining units, site leadership, families, and the broader community.
The shared goal remains a plan that is fiscally responsible, educationally sound, and sustainable, ensuring long-term stability for Plumas Unified School District while protecting core student opportunities wherever possible.
The proposed cuts — affecting certificated, classified, and administrative staff — were presented as part of a Fiscal Stabilization Plan designed to restore the district’s long-term financial health.
During the meeting, the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) reviewed findings from a Comprehensive Review completed on December 23, 2025. The report confirmed that PUSD faces significant fiscal challenges, including a structural deficit, cash insolvency, and an inability to meet the state-required reserve levels.
Interim Chief Business Official Stephanie Shatto presented the district’s Fiscal Stabilization Plan, explaining that under Assembly Bill 2756 and direction from the County Administrator, PUSD is required to adopt a formal plan outlining ongoing reductions to correct its financial instability. The district’s reduction target is $9.5 million.
Shatto emphasized that the plan was developed with input from staff and community surveys, student surveys, administrative collaboration, and listening sessions held in Portola, Chester, Greenville, and Quincy.
“This is the final version that will be adopted and used as a road map,” Shatto stated. “Decisions made today are hard, but then we won’t have to come back again and again.”
The district outlined extensive personnel reductions projected to save approximately $8 million, with an additional $1.5 million in cuts to be determined following the 2026–27 interim report.
Proposed reductions include:
Elimination of unnecessary vacancies, saving an estimated $1,855,330
Reduction or discontinuance of 12 full-time teachers, 5 part-time Career Technical Education (CTE) teachers and part-time PE teacher
Cuts to classified services, including:
1 administrative assistant
2 attendance clerks
1 behavioral health specialist
4 bus drivers
2 cook managers
4 custodians
6 library media specialists
14 paraprofessionals
4 student services coordinators
Reduction of one principal position at Quincy Elementary, as the district consolidates Pioneer and Alder campuses into a single site.
During public comment, speakers urged the board to prioritize students and seek collaborative solutions that would minimize harm to classrooms. Many warned that increasing class sizes would negatively impact student achievement.
Speakers appealed to the County Administrator to “do what research and common sense demand,” emphasizing that schools are the foundation of community strength. Several expressed concern that repeated reductions could permanently alter the character and quality of local schools.“Students need to thrive in these lean times, not just survive,” one speaker said. Another cautioned, “When you cut, you bleed — and you risk losing the definition of your school.”
Despite community opposition, County Administrator Richard DuVarney approved all proposed cuts.
Areas under review include:
Reducing or eliminating nonessential contracted services
Reviewing consultant and service agreements
Limiting travel, conferences, and discretionary departmental budgets
Reviewing subscription/licensing costs
Restricting overtime and extra-duty assignments
Moving stipends and other expenses to possible grants
Next steps outlined in the Fiscal Stabilization Plan include additional fine-tuning of projections, staffing impacts, operational adjustments, and implementation timelines will occur. These refinements will be informed by updated financial data and meaningful collaboration with all educational partners, including staff, bargaining units, site leadership, families, and the broader community.
The shared goal remains a plan that is fiscally responsible, educationally sound, and sustainable, ensuring long-term stability for Plumas Unified School District while protecting core student opportunities wherever possible.
