Adult‑education ESL instructors urge Mount Diablo Unified to pause cuts, request independent budget review

A group of part‑time English‑as‑a‑Second‑Language instructors at Mount Diablo Unified School District told the board June 11 they face canceled summer classes and unclear plans for fall assignments and pay increases, and they asked trustees to pause any program cutbacks until an independent budget review is completed.

“We respectfully request an immediate pause on cutbacks in the ESL Family Literacy Program until an audit or full budget review is completed by an independent party,” said Alyssa Stekel, who identified herself as one of about 27 ESL teachers in the district’s adult education program.

The speakers described a pattern of promises from district adult‑education administrators about pay increases that were not fulfilled. Maren (Maureen) Anton, a part‑time ESL teacher at Montego Adult Education, read a student’s letter of thanks to illustrate the program’s community impact. Tatiana Dutra Emilio read a letter from Elizabeth Bognar, identified in the letter as an ESL instructor at Loma Vista Adult Center, that warned of harm to adult students and teachers if summer and fall classes are reduced. Pleasant Hill City Council member Amanda Sakatz — speaking in her capacity as an adult‑education instructor — said she and other instructors are ‘‘disappointed that summer school is not being offered as it has every year in the past decade’’ and asked the district to audit how grant and program funds were spent.

Teachers said they were told in August 2024 that raises would be implemented in December and that any delay would be made retroactive; some instructors said they were told the delay was due to an HR staff departure. They also cited WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) and CAPE funding records they say indicate funds were available to support summer ESL offerings.

Speakers proposed alternatives to layoffs, including reducing administrative positions. “Maybe instead of firing teachers as the resort, the administration should look at other ways to cut costs that don't directly affect students,” Stekel said, noting the adult‑education administrative structure includes “one director, an assistant director, and two vice principals.”

Board members did not take action on the public comments during the meeting. The district’s public presenters said they would accept documentation the speakers offered and indicated the board would consider public comment as part of upcoming budget and staffing decisions.

The instructors said they will provide documentary materials to the board supporting their requests.

The teachers’ appeals came during the meeting’s public comment period; no formal board vote or motion on ESL staffing or the summer program was reported on June 11. The board’s agenda shows the district will finalize budget decisions later this month, and the presenters asked that any staffing or program reductions affecting adult ESL be delayed until a budget review can be completed.