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Antioch Unified board approves USC Rossier climate-and-culture study after extended debate
Summary
After extended questions about cost and overlap with earlier audits, the Antioch Unified School District board approved a 20-month climate-and-culture assessment by USC Rossier that includes listening sessions, a customized survey instrument and a roadmap for district action.
The Antioch Unified School District board voted to approve a climate-and-culture assessment contract with USC Rossier on a 2025 meeting item moved up for earlier consideration. The measure funds a 20-month study to design a locally validated climate survey, conduct listening sessions with students, staff and families, analyze data, and deliver a practical road map for addressing barriers to student learning.
Supporters of the contract, introduced by Superintendent Dr. Darnice Williams and presented virtually by USC faculty Dr. Pedro Noggera and Dr. John Pascarella, said the engagement will produce locally tailored, validated instruments and recommendations to help the district operationalize equity and climate goals. "If you can eliminate barriers, all kids are in a position to learn," Dr. Noggera said in the presentation.
Trustees pressed the presenters for specifics on methods, sample sizes and past work. USC staff described a core research team of roughly nine researchers, the use of targeted listening sessions to inform survey design, and plans to validate instruments with the district’s demographic profile. Dr. Pascarella said the firm would combine surveys, focus groups and document review to produce actionable recommendations and an implementation roadmap.
Several trustees and members of the public questioned whether the contract duplicates prior audits and whether the proposed budget—discussed as being near $200,000 during the Q&A—was justified. Vice President Roachcha said she worried the study would "recreate something that has already been done" and wanted assurance it would not merely reproduce earlier surveys. USC presenters said their approach emphasizes local validation and a collaborative roadmap rather than a ‘‘cookie-cutter’’ reuse of instruments.
After roughly two hours of questions and public comment, the board moved and approved the contract as presented. The motion passed by voice vote.
Next steps: USC will begin phase‑one listening sessions, develop the instrument in consultation with district stakeholders, and report preliminary findings to the board as part of the agreed timeline. The board directed staff to track overlaps with previous audits and to seek clarity about how the new findings will be used to change district practices and budgets.
