The Sonoma Valley Unified School District is moving forward with cutting 39 employee positions for the upcoming academic year to address declining enrollment and financial pressures.
The layoffs, affecting both teachers and support staff, are expected to save the district over three million dollars following the closure of Prestwood Elementary this month.
While dozens of jobs were eliminated, remaining staff will see a two-percent salary increase and a one-thousand-dollar bonus after successful union negotiations. In a move to unify the district, the board also voted unanimously to rename Altimira Middle School to Sonoma Valley Middle School.
This name change marks a fresh start for the campus while moving away from the controversial history of its original namesake.
