Budget cuts across the San Ramon Valley Unified School District are starting to impact Cal High, and students are beginning to feel the pressure.
Following a vote on Jan. 14, the district Board of Education approved a plan to cut $24 million from its budget.
These reductions are meant to fix a growing financial deficit. But teachers and students worry they could hurt the student experience.
Counselor Becky Bellini said the student-to-teacher ratio is expected to increase from 27:1 to 29:1, leading to fewer teachers on campus next year.
While the shift might seem minor, it translates into bigger class sizes, fewer courses, and less personalized support.
“In a smaller class, I can ask questions and get direct help,” freshman Eagen Kim said. “Now, with more students, getting attention from teachers will be harder.”
Larger class sizes also make it more difficult to share limited resources.
“If we already struggle to get enough textbooks and lab equipment, adding more students just makes things worse,” sophomore Trey Lim said. “More students obviously mean resources like textbooks and computers get stretched thinner.”
For science courses, the impact could be even greater.
“Items like beakers, jars and other important items related to our labs would decrease as a result of more students,” AP Environmental Science (APES) teacher Sarah Gipson said. “Classroom arrangements may even need to change to accommodate larger numbers, and science rooms aren’t always built for that.”
In many science classes, labs are already crowded. With more students, teachers may have to limit hands-on work or adjust lab groups, which could affect learning outcomes.
The staffing reduction also means fewer class periods and sections are being offered. That puts pressure on both students and counselors when it comes to class selection.
“Due to less classes being available toward students as a result of teacher cuts, this places immense pressure on both teachers and students alike,” Bellini said.
As more students compete for fewer spots, some may be prevented from enrolling in electives or advanced courses they were hoping to take.
Bellini also pointed to the impact of San Ramon’s recent rising housing costs, which continue to bring more families into the area. With a growing student population, the pressure on Cal is increasing.
“Due to increasing housing rates within San Ramon, this leads to potential student populations increasing as a result,” Bellini said.
These shifts are also creating challenges in English classes. With more students per period, teachers are finding it more challenging to provide quality feedback for writing assignments.
“Larger classes mean less time for giving thoughtful feedback on writing,” Theresa Pacheco, who teaches English 9 Justice and Community and English 10, said. “It’s frustrating, especially when students are trying to improve. What worries me most is that students who are quiet, struggling or just need a little extra support might fall through the cracks.”
Students agree that the noise, distractions and classroom overcrowding could affect learning.
“It’s going to be harder to focus when there are more students conversing,” junior Evan Kim said. “Some classes are already loud, and this will only make it worse.”
Although final staffing numbers are still being determined, Cal administrators and counseling teams are working behind the scenes to balance course requests, limited staff, and classroom space.
The situation has left some uneasy.
“We’re told not to panic, but when you lose this many teachers and still have the same number of students signing up for classes, you can’t help but worry,” Bellini said.
To push back, more than 1,000 district teachers rallied outside Dougherty Valley High School during a district-wide teacher inservice day in February. The protest was aimed at urging the district administrators to make cuts in areas that don’t directly impact students.
“The district’s proposal would decrease individual attention to student needs by increasing caseloads for mental health support staff,” according to a press release issued by the San Ramon Valley Education Association, the union which represents all the teachers in the whole district.
As other California districts face similar challenges, Cal is preparing for the worst. Whether it’s having fewer desks in a classroom or students not getting into a class because of fewer course sections offered, the reality is clear.
“Even a small increase in class size can create significant changes in student experience,” Bellini said. “We’re doing our best to adapt, but the reality is it’s going to be harder for everyone.”