Antioch Unified Adopts $30.58M Recovery Plan as Trustees Demand Values Talk

The Antioch Unified School District Governing Board on Sept. 23, 2026, committed to a five-year path of deep, ongoing cuts after closing 2025-26 with a $19.6M deficit. By voice vote, trustees adopted a fiscal recovery plan that sets a $21.58M reduction target for 2027-28 and $30.58M cumulative by 2028-29. The harder question remains unresolved: which programs and positions get cut, and what values guide those choices.

• $30.58M in ongoing cuts targeted through 2028-29 under the new 2026-2031 recovery plan

• $6.58M in planned reductions went unrealized, rolling into a $21.58M target for 2027-28

• Trustees call for a values-first budget study session before staff return with specific cuts

• Teachers' union seeks a binding MOU on special education staffing and classroom safety

• Closed session splits 3-2, naming Trustee Olga Cobos-Smith primary legal contact on matters involving Dr. Williams

• Orchard Park gym moves toward construction as building trades press for a project labor agreement

A Five-Year Plan to Close the Gap

Why it matters: The district spent $333.3M against $308M in revenue last year. Most of the planned cuts are still ahead, and county oversight deadlines arrive Oct. 8 and Nov. 30.

The basics: "Unaudited actuals" are the district's year-end financial results before an outside audit. They set the starting balances for the current budget year.

Where things stand: Chief Business Official Rosa Loza reported a $19.6M deficit after transfers and an ending fund balance of $41.4M. Results came in $3.4M better than estimated actuals, but that was not enough to avoid red ink.

The bigger problem is cuts that never materialized. Of the reductions planned for 2026-27, $11.7M was confirmed and $6.58M went unrealized. That shortfall now rolls forward, raising the 2027-28 target to $21.58M, with $9M more in 2028-29.

Loza stressed that the reduction list is preliminary. "I want to make sure that no individual position, no program or contract reduction is approved just by showing this information," said Loza. She also warned that the projections exclude any negotiated labor settlements. Any raises won at the bargaining table would widen the gap.

The other side: Trustees pressed for specifics. Trustee Antonio Hernandez asked what could change the numbers, how Fund 17 transfers work and how much special education spending is structural and likely to grow. Trustee Dee Brown asked whether the unrealized $6.58M affects the county's classification of the district. Loza did not have a specific answer but said the county is supportive.

Superintendent Banda struck an optimistic note. "I do see that there'll be daylight at the end of the 5 years and that we can reach that goal of fiscal solvency and stability," said Banda.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: By voice vote, the board approved:
- the unaudited actuals (moved by Cobos-Smith, seconded by Hernandez)
- the recovery plan and planning targets (moved by Trustee Mary Rocha)
- the 2026-27 Gann appropriations limit
- revised Resolution 2026-2731, identifying the reductions needed in 2027-28 and 2028-29
- corrected Resolution 2026-2734, a transfer to the special reserve fund (the title had wrongly read "restricted" instead of "unrestricted")
- Resolution 2026-2735, formally adopting the 2026-2031 plan

Tallies were not announced. Employees, labor unions and families should expect position and program proposals in the coming months.

What's next: The plan and multiyear projection are due to the county by Oct. 8. Detailed reduction proposals are due by Nov. 30, with community, union and staff sessions planned. The list of reductions must also appear in the 2026-27 second interim report.

Trustees Ask: Whose Values Guide the Cuts?

Why it matters: The board has debated how cuts were carried out but never set the priorities behind them. Trustees warned that this gap could land on already-struggling classrooms.

Where things stand: Cobos-Smith pushed for a conversation as soon as possible. "When are we going to have the conversation about whose values are guiding these cuts?" said Board Vice President Olga Cobos-Smith.

She contrasted the district's funding of a pay scale study with the absence of any study of how cuts affect children. "Because nobody asked for it. Nobody wanted it. And that says a lot about our values," said Cobos-Smith.

She also noted that certificated staff costs make up 58% of the budget, against a 55% floor set in the state Education Code. She argued the board must give the chief business official clear, unified direction.

Rocha agreed and named reading, special education and safety as board priorities. "Now, we as a board need to now know, because we're going to have cuts, where do we stand?" said Trustee Mary Rocha. Hernandez asked staff to share the frameworks that have guided past decisions.

The other side: Board President Jag Lathan backed a study session. She said staff from instruction and human resources may need to attend to explain impacts, while Cobos-Smith said not all staff need to be present. "We do have to make sure that we are having these conversations to make sure that we stay away from students," said Lathan.

What's next: Banda proposed using the upcoming board governance workshop to move toward consensus while still holding a study session. Lathan said she will work with Banda to set a date.

Special Ed Staff Say Classrooms Are Unsafe

Why it matters: Special education serves about 20% of students and consumes nearly a third of the budget. The district is also under state watch for disproportionate identification of students for special education.

Where things stand: Melissa, vice president of the Antioch Education Association, said paraprofessional staffing was cut in half and that only one-to-one aides are legally protected. She said group sizes grew from 3-5 students to 6-8, and a specialized reading curriculum was downgraded to supplemental. "I'm asking the district leadership to come back to the table and work with our union on MOU to establish clear and binding standards for classroom coverage safety protocols, and sub support…" she said.

Amanda Freitas, a kindergarten teacher at Fremont, described repeated physical harm to staff and requests for support that went unanswered. "But right now, I don't feel heard," said Freitas.

During the state-required hearing on whether schools have enough textbooks and instructional materials, staff reported no deficiencies at 17 sites. A Turner Elementary special education teacher disputed that finding, saying special education materials are severely lacking and the supplemental reading curriculum is inappropriate for grades 3-5.

The other side: Banda framed the fiscal pressure. "Some may be aware that our special ed program has about 20% of our students enrolled in it, and that's a very high number compared to a lot of other districts," said Banda.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: No action was taken. Rocha asked for direction on classroom safety and special education curriculum. Lathan requested data on students moving from special education into general education. Banda promised reports.

Orchard Park Gym Advances Without a Labor Pact

Why it matters: Another bond-funded project is moving forward without a project labor agreement (PLA). A PLA is a pre-hire contract that sets wages and work rules with construction unions.

Where things stand: Resolution 2026-2732 delegates authority to approve the guaranteed maximum price and sign lease-leaseback documents for the Orchard Park School gym and modernization. Lease-leaseback is a construction delivery method that lets a district pick a contractor without traditional low-bid procurement.

Facilities Director Miguel Cruz said the project received Division of the State Architect approval on Aug. 13, 2026. With El Niño preparations in mind, "we're looking to begin construction 2-3 weeks in advance prior to the next board meeting," said Cruz.

The other side: Tim Sabranti, executive director of the Contra Costa Building and Construction Trades Council, said he was neither for nor against the resolution. He was "expressing general concern that another major project is being constructed with bond dollars and we still don't have the project labor agreement adopted." He noted that Liberty Union recently adopted a PLA and said Martinez Unified saved enough under one to build an extra school.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Rocha asked whether the vote would interfere with the PLA. "So the project labor agreement would not apply to this project," said Cruz. He added that the contractor is a union signatory. The board approved the resolution by voice vote (moved by Rocha, seconded by Cobos-Smith).

What's next: Staff are targeting a draft PLA for October or November.

Closed Session Splits Over Legal Contact

The board reported two closed-session actions. Trustees voted 5-0 to have Keenan send a notice of insufficiency on an anticipated litigation matter. Individual votes were not named.

In a 3-2 roll call vote, the board named Cobos-Smith primary contact for legal counsel on matters involving Dr. Williams (For: Cobos-Smith, Rocha, Brown; Against: Lathan, Hernandez; Absent: 0). The split shows a division over how the board handles legal matters tied to Dr. Williams.

• Personnel Commission: After a public hearing, the board appointed Tony Tiscarino, a former Antioch councilmember and labor leader, as its representative. Public commenter Roxanne Reese urged him to advocate for the board's financial requests.

• Fire safety: Danielle Watson and Jacob Ferguson urged restoring the eliminated electronics technician position. They cited $155,268 in August fire protection costs and fire alarm maintenance lapses across 26 sites.

• After-school plan: The board approved a revised Expanded Learning Opportunity Program plan funded entirely with restricted funds. Additions include Black Diamond Middle School, attendance recovery, intervention and athletics camps.

• Health staff: The board split the combined healthcare assistant and licensed vocational nurse job descriptions to better prepare for disease outbreaks.

• Facilities backlog: Banda estimated districtwide facilities needs at closer to $2 billion, dwarfing the last $190M bond. Antioch Middle School is 78 years old.

Looking ahead: County deadlines arrive Oct. 8 and Nov. 30. The board's next regular meetings are Oct. 28 and Nov. 18. Hernandez asked for a resolution supporting Proposition 3 and a discussion on artificial intelligence (AI) policy, following a student board member's concerns about AI use in classrooms.