Schools in Beverly Hills may see fewer familiar faces in the 2025-2026 school year. At the Beverly Hills Unified School Board’s March 11 meeting, board members gave the district the authority to close a number of certificated and classified positions. Those positions include two elementary school vice principals, the executive directors of athetics and of information technology, an assistant superintendent, executive director of school safety, executive director of communications and strategic initiatives and others.
Additionally, Interim Superintendent Dr. Jason Hasty read out actions that took place earlier in closed session, in which the district was authorized to provide specific employees with notices. Those notices include release and reassignment and non-reelection.
Board members said the decision to reduce administrative staff was based on a combination of budgetary and performance concerns.
Referencing a recent audit of the district conducted by the state of California and the Los Angeles County Office of Education, Board Vice President Judy Manouchehri said the district has been found to have “too much management,” and alluded to nearby elementary schools having better test scores than El Rodeo Elementary School.
Shortly after the board meeting, BHUSD released a statement that said the staff changes are “aimed at strengthening academic excellence while maintaining fiscal responsibility and compliance with state funding requirements.”
In the same statement, Board President Rachelle Marcus said the board’s focus is on the students.
“We are committed to providing our students with the highest quality education while ensuring that our financial resources are allocated in a way that directly benefits their learning experience,” she said. “These changes allow us to prioritize academic excellence while maintaining a strong and sustainable district.”
Among those individuals being released and reassigned from their current positions are El Rodeo Elementary School Principal Sarah Kaber and Assistant Principal Kevin Painter. El Rodeo staff were informed by Kaber and Painter of the district’s decision at a March 12 staff meeting. Both Kaber and Painter said they will be removed from administrative positions effective at the end of the current school year. Since both have tenure, they were given the option to return as classroom teachers.
“Every Wednesday morning, we have a staff meeting,” said an individual who attended the meeting. “Sarah and Kevin told us, ‘We’ve been released and reassigned. They’re offering us positions as classroom teachers.’ Nobody has been told any reasons.”
Staff from El Rodeo attended the March 11 board meeting to express their support for Kaber and Painter. Most wore all black.
“We had 35, 40 members of our staff, almost every teacher at the board meeting for two and a half hours,” said the same individual who attended the meeting. “We were showing up in support for [Kaber and Painter].”
She added that many staff members wore orange ribbons to school the following day.
“If kids ask us [about the ribbons], we’re just saying that Ms. Kaber’s favorite color is orange, and we’re showing that we love and respect her,” they said.
Community members also spoke at the March 11 meeting in support of administrative staff and against the manner in which the board made its restructuring decisions. Jonathan Goldfinger, M.D., a local parent and pediatrician at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles with expertise in trauma-informed care, said removing leadership could result in serious harm to students.
“We know there’s a lot more to education than just test scores,” he said. “When we uproot leaders from our schools … perhaps without sufficient concern for growth, we are perpetuating environments and social climates that have led young generations to be among the most anxious, depressed and tragically suicidal and at risk for overdose, bullying and other forms of school violence.”
On March 13, Kaber addressed her situation in the school’s online newsletter, “The El Rodeo Roundup.”
“At Tuesday evening’s Board of Education meeting, Dr. Hasty reported that the board voted 5-0 to reassign several administrators, including Mr. Painter and me,” she wrote. “At this time, we have not yet received further details regarding our next roles … Through our collective efforts, we have created the highest-performing school in the district, a testament to the dedication of our extraordinary teachers, the enthusiasm of our students, and the unwavering support of our parents and guardians. As we move forward, please know that you have our unwavering dedication to your children and the future of this school.”
When reached by the Courier about the resolutions passed by the board and the public’s reaction thereto, Hasty had this observation:
“I will be the first to acknowledge the emotional toll this takes on a community. I’m going to do my best to be visible, to listen to feedback and make sure that I’m a conduit for the board and support the board.”
Hasty also noted that the notices voted upon by the board resolutions “are required by law” to be given by March 15 each year. “They are not effective until June 30, but it gives us a space of time as a leadership group to make necessary decisions,” said Hasty.
He added, “The facts are the facts. We were seeing a deficit. We have to make some tough decisions.”
