As Modesto City Schools lays off campus supervisors, concerns over safety and security grow
The Modesto City Schools board recently approved the layoffs of 47 employees, including campus supervisors and school support managers.
Some of these reductions stem from the expiration of temporary COVID-era funding that had allowed for increased staffing. As those one-time funds phase out, the district is reverting to pre-pandemic staffing levels. Currently, there are 86 campus supervisors across the district, but following these adjustments, that number will be reduced to 79.
During the most recent school board meeting, students voiced concerns about campus safety, citing frequent fights and drug use in restrooms. Several expressed that they relied on staff members to help manage such issues and feared the layoffs would exacerbate the situation.
Cole Marley, a former Enochs High student, spoke at the board meeting, emphasizing the vital role campus supervisors play in supporting the school’s diverse student population.
“When people in these bathrooms start fights, these people are here to help stop and prevent dangers from our peers and other students .... These people are our first line of defense,” Marley said at the meeting.
A current Enochs student who did not identify themselves during the meeting said there is a drug issue at the school, noting that the smell of vapes and marijuana is often present in the bathrooms.
Lindsey Bird, whose son plays on Beyer High School’s boys volleyball team, said she discussed the layoffs with half of the team. According to her, the players wished the district had prioritized retaining the most proactive and relationship-driven campus supervisors rather than basing cuts solely on seniority. They also agreed that restrooms are hot spots for fights and drug use.
Bird added that the students were unaware of the planned layoffs and wished the district had consulted them about safety concerns before making the decision.
Laura Gilstrap, a district parent, expressed concerns that safety and security issues will worsen with fewer campus supervisors.
She shared that her daughter, a student at La Loma Junior High, has several friends who are involved in frequent fights and has been personally threatened.
She said her middle child is now on independent study after being attacked at Downey High School, an incident that was recorded and continues to circulate on social media, leading to ongoing harassment.
“I 100% believe it will get worse. The kids are already pretty good at evading [staff], like fights in the bathroom, so they were already struggling,” Gilstrap said.
She added that stricter rules against posting fights on social media would also help.
In a statement, Modesto City Schools said student and staff safety is a top priority in the district.
Sharokina Shams, the chief communications officer for Modesto City Schools, said school safety continues to improve across all campuses, including high schools, due to enhanced security measures. Recent efforts include visitor management systems, emergency response training, anonymous reporting systems and secured single points of entry with new fencing. She said these measures are useful in a wide variety of safety situations, not exclusive to strangers entering the campus.
Bird said the students she spoke with questioned whether the district’s spending on fencing, which they feel makes the school resemble a prison, was the reason there isn’t enough funding to retain campus supervisors.
Regarding drug use, Shams noted that the district offers various resources, including mental health clinicians, alcohol and drug counselors, and programs such as Red Ribbon Week. Additionally, campus clubs like PHAST are dedicated to preventing substance abuse.
She also mentioned that the district is nearing the launch of a districtwide “Be the Change” campaign, which encourages students to take a stand against bullying, vaping and other issues.
Shams said that the district maintains strong partnerships with local law enforcement and has expanded social-emotional support as a preventative measure. In addition to campus supervisors, eight School Safety Officers serve throughout the district.
SSOs ensure the safety of students by protecting them from both potential intruders and harmful situations. While they are not armed, they have the authority to detain individuals.
Of those who will be laid off, she said the district is working hard to help those staff members find other positions within the district.
“We are optimistic that at the end of the year, most if not all these staff members will have new positions in the district,” Shams wrote in the statement.
This story was originally published March 31, 2025 at 3:27 PM.
