Camden school district sends layoff notices to 100 employees, including entire central office

In a major restructuring, the Camden school district has sent pink slips to the entire central office and made plans for other possible job cuts, a district spokesperson confirmed Monday.

The district began notifying employees Thursday in its main office and schools — from clerks to veteran administrators — that their positions would be eliminated. The restructuring will take effect June 30.

Some employees will be eligible to reapply for jobs. But the district said it planned to announce newly defined positions by May 11. Notices were sent to 100 employees, a spokesperson said.

It was not immediately clear how many employees could ultimately be impacted. Some have tenure and bumping rights in other positions. Those who don’t meet the qualifications of the new positions could be out of a job.

Theresa Reese, the district’s chief talent officer, said in a letter obtained by The Inquirer that the restructuring is aimed at “streamlining our operations and clarifying roles.”

Superintendent Alfonso Q. Llano has said the district anticipates cutting 80 jobs to close a budget gap for the 2026-27 school year. No specifics were provided.

“These layoffs are tied to our broader budget planning. Like many districts, we are managing financial pressures, including enrollment shifts and rising costs,” district spokesperson Sheena Yera said in a statement Monday.

» READ MORE: Camden School Superintendent Katrina T. McCombs unveils plans to close $91 million budget gap

Llano is expected to release more details Tuesday night at a budget hearing.

“It’s a sad day in Camden,” said an administrator who was not authorized to speak about the restructuring and requested anonymity. “People are really upset.”

Camden Education Association president Pamela Clark said rank-and-file members outside of the central office have also been notified about possible job cuts.

Clark said the union, which represents teachers and support staff, was initially told that its members would not be affected by the restructuring. The union plans to hold a rally outside Tuesday’s meeting.

“The impact of these decisions on our members — and ultimately on our students — will be detrimental,” Clark wrote to union members. “We cannot continue to carry increasing workloads while positions are reduced. Enough is enough.”

Yera said the district was finalizing the number of positions and roles impacted by the layoff notices. Camden downsized its full-time employees from 1,613 last year to 1,329.

“Our focus remains on protecting classroom instruction and student supports,” Yera said.

In a restructuring last year, former Superintendent Katrina McCombs cut 300 positions to close a $91 million budget deficit for the current school year. Under those cuts, 117 people lost their jobs, including teachers, counselors, clerks, custodians, security officers, and senior managers and directors.

Although the state has increased aid to the district by 6% for the upcoming school year, the district is struggling amid declining enrollment. More than 55% of its $476 million budget goes to payments to charter and renaissance schools, a growing alternative to traditional public schools.

Since a state takeover of Camden schools in 2013, enrollment in the traditional public schools has dropped nearly 50%, from 11,660 to 5,652 this year. Renaissance schools have 6,751 students, while charters have 3,295.

In his first major announcement since becoming the state-appointed schools chief in March, Llano unveiled a controversial plan last month to merge the four high schools at Camden High. The campus currently houses three separate magnet schools and Camden High, a comprehensive school.

The merger would have consolidated Dr. Charles E. Brimm Medical Arts High, Creative Arts High, and the Big Picture Learning Academy into Camden High.

» READ MORE: Vineland educator is named new Camden superintendent, the first Hispanic to lead the district

Llano dialed the plan back slightly after pushback from the community, students, and alumni. Students will be able to begin taking classes cross campus and all schools will follow a block schedule, he said. But plans were dropped to issue a single diploma that says Camden High beginning in 2030.

The central office restructuring means that Davida Coe-Brockington would return as principal of Creative Arts High. She was named as interim superintendent in July while the district searched for a replacement for McCombs.

It was unclear Monday whether Coe-Brockington would serve as principal of all four schools at Camden High. Llano has said each school must have its own principal, but currently a single principal oversees them.