Parents, teachers and students urge Antioch board to spare counselors, BCBAs and bilingual aides

A long line of parents, teachers and students told the Antioch Unified School District board May 14 that proposed budget reductions threaten services they said are essential for student safety and learning.

Speakers included Antioch High students, classroom teachers and special‑education advocates who described missed IEP services, reliance on wellness rooms and the consequences of losing paraprofessionals and behavior supports. Farzana Saeed, a senior representing Antioch High students, said roughly 85% of students feel unheard by the board and asked trustees to prioritize programs that support students’ learning and mental health. “Removing programs widens existing academic gaps,” she said.

Several teachers and parents detailed specific program impacts: reduced counseling access, large special‑education class sizes without aides, and less bilingual support for English learners. One parent and former nurse appealed directly, saying the district once assured families it understood students’ needs and pleading, “What are we supposed to do with those kids?”

Board members acknowledged the public testimony and said staff would continue to examine how exemptions and phased actions could protect legally required services while meeting fiscal obligations. Directors and staff explained that some positions listed for elimination were funded with one‑time grants or MOUs that sunset, and that restoring those positions would require identifying sustainable funding.

While public comment did not change the board’s decision to adopt a modified reduction package, it did shape board debate: trustees voted to exempt several student‑facing positions from the immediate reduction list, directing staff to pursue other savings and bring additional analyses back to the board.

The comments underscored community anxiety about staffing and services as the district pursues a plan to regain fiscal stability.