Multiple parents, classified staff and union representatives told the Sacramento City Unified School District board on Oct. 16 that chronic vacancies for instructional and health aides are harming special education students and that contracting out services to agencies undermines continuity of care.

‘‘Because the wage is so low for these positions, it is difficult to attract qualified candidates,’’ said Rebecca Wall, identifying herself as a member of the SEIU bargaining team and a health services technician with 14 years in the district. Wall said agency workers are often paid more than district employees for the same work and that the district spends ‘‘a lot of money’’ on outside contractors while vacancies remain high.

SEIU and other speakers described long-term shortages: Wall said there were 660 vacancies in these positions a year ago and 553 remain; a district speaker said only 16% of those vacancies were filled during the year. Yvonne Tellis, identifying herself as a registered behavioral technician employed by the district, said she observed 46 agency aides and only six district aides in certain classrooms and described problems with accountability, training and inconsistent attendance among contractors.

Several speakers urged the board to negotiate higher wages and convert contracted positions to district employment. ‘‘Pay the aides $30 an hour,’’ said an SEIU representative during an employee-organization report; another union speaker said increasing district wages would ultimately save money now spent on outside contractors.

Assistant Superintendent Becky Bryant (Special Education) explained to the board that federal law and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act require timely delivery of services ordered in individualized education programs (IEPs). Bryant and other administrators said contracting becomes necessary when vacancies would otherwise leave a legally required service unmet. She reported progress: board-approved memoranda of understanding (MOUs) permit some contracting where appropriate and 15 of 39 master service agreements with vendors are now board-approved, compared with none at the same point last year.

Board members raised questions about whether services were being authorized before administrative review, requested clearer budget impacts for past unauthorized payments, and urged staff to accelerate hiring and retention efforts. Several members said they want to shift more services to district employees when feasible and to reduce reliance on ‘‘warm-body’’ contractors.

No formal board action on staffing wages or contractor conversions was taken at the meeting; staff said they will continue negotiations with labor partners and pursue hiring and contracting reforms.