SAUSD Doubles Down: Trustee Brenda Lebsack Challenges the District’s Budget Failures and Policies on Girls’ Sports

“Shame on you!” shouted parents after SAUSD finalized plans to lay off over 260 teachers, counselors, and staff members. 

Last week, the Santa Ana Unified School District approved mass layoffs of over 260 teachers, counselors, and staff members. The 4-1 vote finalizes the resolution which first came before the Board in February as a response to the district’s over $180 million deficit. 

In both instances, the action was approved by a 4-1 vote, with the lone dissenter being Trustee Brenda Lebsack. Lebsack has, naturally, been vocal regarding her opinion of the layoffs and critical of her colleagues’ continued use of COVID bailout money to hire more employees. 

She has also championed a resolution to promote fairness in women’s sports, a resolution which just passed in Capistrano Unified. During a Board meeting on April 22nd, Lebsack stated that over 90% of Arab Americans are Muslim and therefore would be likely to support the women’s sports initiative. In response, the other Trustees accused Lebsack of insensitivity and transphobia. This all came to a head during last week’s meeting, when said trustees voted to censure her. 

For the sake of clarity, it must be noted that she was not censured for her vote or concerns regarding the budget. Nevertheless, some have argued that action feels retaliatory—an effort to hurt her symbolically for continuing to call out the district’s failures.

“In spite of a pattern of declining enrollment for at least 15 years, the board still increased counselors and teachers,” said Lebsack before voting against the layoffs. “The board knew the COVID relief funds were not ongoing. The decision to increase positions was obviously unsustainable. Three board members on this board currently made that decision—and we all make mistakes and miscalculations—but this is just one of many.”

Lebsack went on to explain her decision to oppose the vote even further by stating that the root cause is “a series of bad decisions” by the other Trustees. “The board was told that if the district runs out of cash and has to borrow money from the state, a county administrator would have to run the district,” she explained. “I see the consequence of removing the board’s decision-making power as in the best interest in student safety.” 

Board President Hector Bustos fired back at Lebsack in his arguments in favor of the mass layoffs, but has repeatedly shirked any accountability for the mismanagement of the school district’s finances.

“She will try to convince you that her vote was in defense of educators. But her record, her words, her actions and her ideology tell a very different story. This is someone who has consistently opposed our unions, who has aligned herself with anti-public education interests, and who has repeatedly championed charter expansion at the expense of our public schools,” stated Bustos. “She’s not here for solutions, she’s here for spectacle.”

“We need to evaluate not just what exists—the layoffs—but why it exists and deal with the root cause. Otherwise, we will continue to be in the situation of layoffs year after year after year,” Lebsack explained.

The board did not heed her words. And in response to the decision, local parents and community members expressed shock and disappointment. One participant shouted “shame!” Another, Sonta Garner-Marcelo, who served as President of the Santa Ana Educators Association, unequivocally denounced the move. 

“We’re angry, we’re furious that our district continues to not do what is right for our students and our community,” said Garner-Marcelo. “These cuts are going to impact our classrooms, and impact our students… They’re creating a real harm to the community and the association is going to fight and recall each person one by one.” 

A petition opposing the layoffs has garnered more than 5,000 signatures at the time of writing. Though the savings expected from this action are estimated at roughly $30 million—which, in a best case scenario, would only account for a meager 16% of the budget shortfall. 

Then came the decision to censure Lebsack. While officially done in response to remarks that are, in Bustos’ words, “not a reflection of our school district,” they came on the eve of an important vote, which may—intentionally or otherwise—harm the success of her resolution.  

“Fixing a broken system isn’t what Butros and the majority care about,” wrote Will O’Neill, Chairman of the Republican Party of Orange County in a Facebook post. “How do we know? Because at the same meeting this week where 262 teachers/staff were terminated, the leftists on the board censured Lebsack for the high crime of believing that biological males shouldn’t compete in girls’ sports.”

Once again, a host of parents spoke out in her defense. 

“Silencing board member Lebsack directly disrespects and silences its voters and supporters,” said Naya Morales, a member of the public. “Brenda's commitment has always been to the truth, transparency, and responsible governance. If seeking honest answers and advocating for accountability is cause for censure, then we must reexamine what kind of leadership or community truly deserves.”

Three of the Trustees are up for re-election next year, and it’s clear Lebsack’s supporters are hopeful that this presents an opportunity for them to eventually see new leadership on the SAUSD board: “Bustos fiddles while his schools burn. He’s also up for re-election next year, who’s running against him?” asked O’Neill.