Board Cuts Learning Disability Specialists as State Revenue Flatlines

The Contra Costa Community College District Board of Trustees voted to eliminate the only free learning disability evaluation services in the county, as three speakers — a specialist, a colleague, and a former student turned graduate scholar — warned the cuts would devastate the district's most vulnerable students. The same meeting surfaced a deepening fiscal squeeze: flat state revenue, rising costs, and a nearly $1 billion bond measure headed to the June ballot.

• Board eliminates 1.75 FTE learning disability specialist positions at Contra Costa College and Diablo Valley College

• District remains stuck in "hold harmless" under state funding formula, receiving no COLA and no growth dollars despite enrollment gains

• Three-year classified employees contract ratified with new DEI evaluation questions

• Proposed June bond measure nearing $1 billion would fund 12–15 years of facility projects; taxpayer group suggests formalizing no-new-bond pledge via resolution

• Student equity data shows persistent gaps for Black/African American students across all three colleges; students testify about belonging and mentorship

• Black History Month resolution adopted on 100th anniversary as board president cites federal attacks on Black employees and historical contributions

The board approved the elimination of 1.75 FTE learning disability (LD) specialist faculty positions at Contra Costa College and Diablo Valley College — the only professionals providing free LD evaluations anywhere in the Contra Costa Community College District, and, speakers argued, in the entire county.