The Camden City School District has sent layoff notices to 100 employees—including every member of its central office staff—as part of a sweeping restructuring effort aimed at closing a widening budget gap, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Notices began going out last Thursday to employees across the district informing them that their positions would be eliminated effective June 30. Everybody from clerks to veteran administrators was caught in the line of fire. New position definitions are expected by May 11—affected employees are eligible to reapply. However, those who don’t qualify for newly defined roles could be out of work entirely.
Camden’s superintendent, Alfonso Q. Llano, has said the district anticipates cutting 80 jobs to address a budget shortfall heading into the 2026-27 school year. These financial pressures are not unique to Camden. New Jersey school districts across the state have been grappling with funding shakeups, Camden included. More than 55% of the district’s $476 million budget goes directly to charter and renaissance school payments—a figure that has grown as enrollment in traditional public schools has dropped nearly 50% since a state takeover in 2013. Last year, 300 positions were cut to close a $91 million deficit. Of those, 117 people lost their jobs outright.
The Camden Education Association pushed back hard Monday.
Union president Pamela Clark said rank-and-file members outside the central office had also received notices, despite assurances from higher-ups that they would be spared. “The impact of these decisions on our members—and ultimately on our students—will be detrimental,” Clark wrote. “We cannot continue to carry increasing workloads while positions are reduced. Enough is enough.” The union is planning a rally outside the budget hearing on Tuesday. Superintendent Llano is expected to release additional details regarding cuts.
That hearing will offer the clearest view of what’s to come. For now, Camden school employees are waiting to find out if they still have a job.