Message from Superintendent Jerry Jennex - February 6, 2026

February 6, 2026

Dear Students, Staff, Families, and Friends of TJUSD,

I wanted to take a few minutes of your time to communicate about a matter of grave
importance in the greater Trona community. By now, almost everyone is aware of the recent
news concerning the imminent employee layoffs at Searles Valley Minerals. This news has
certainly had a profound impact on the Trona community and the reverberations have been felt
here at TJUSD.

As I have talked with staff members and community members about the ramifications for
TJUSD, perhaps the biggest concerns are related to the futures of families, school employment,
and impact on school finances. These concerns will be addressed by school leaders
(administration and school board) as they take into account the district’s current structures and
what the future structures of the district will be in light of the changing economy of Trona.
While most of the answers to questions about the school district future lie in the future, many
of them are already being considered in internal conversations. Most of the questions we have
been asking ourselves are not answered in the immediate short term, but will take a little bit
longer to resolve. Here are a few of the questions we are considering.

Q. How will the plant layoffs impact TJUSD funding?
A. The royalty payments TJUSD receives from the State of California from plant revenues have
been trending downward over the past few years. These funds have helped the district remain
viable and financially healthy. The district’s conservative approach to budget management has
allowed TJUSD to operate with a significant fund balance. This conservative budget
management will afford the district some time to adjust to the new economic reality in Trona.

Q. How will the plant layoffs affect the district’s student enrollment?
A. One major factor in school funding is student average daily attendance. District staff are
already having conversations about what families might be leaving Trona for employment
elsewhere. As the layoffs occur district staff will have a better idea of how many students will
be leaving and what the impact will have on school enrollment.

Q. What will the school do if there is a significant decline in enrollment?
A. The school leaders will be considering strategies to manage the financial viability of the
district while keeping in mind the ultimate goal of serving student needs. If there is a significant
loss of students the district will have to consider being “right sized”. No one likes to talk about
staff reductions but there may be a time in the very near future when such conversations would
have to take place. Through any of these conversation, all alternatives will be considered and
how any decisions will impact students will always be at the forefront of all involved.

All of this information is speculative at this point, but I wanted to begin to publicly acknowledge
that the school district leaders are aware and sensitive to the impact this situation has on the
school community and its constituents. I wish I had all the answers to all the questions
immediately, but the future questions and answers will have to be considered as they arise.

Thank you for all of you and your continued support of the endeavors of Trona Joint Unified
School District. My experience so far in the two years I have been here is that this community
pulls together through challenging times. It is my hope and belief that will continue to be the
case as we seek to Engage, Educate, and Empower our most precious commodity, our students.

Best wishes,

Dr. Jerry Jennex, Superintendent