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Antioch Unified approves new director hires as trustees press for clearer salary and special-education data
Summary
The board confirmed multiple director appointments and AMA salary placements June 17, 2026, while several trustees pressed staff for more transparent salary-schedule documentation and a plan to address rising special-education costs.
The Antioch Unified School District Board of Education on June 17 confirmed a slate of district director appointments and approved related salary placements despite continued trustee concern about access to salary-schedule information and the fiscal pressure of rising special-education costs.
Dr. Dwight Rogers, Natasha Thomas, Jason Larson, Dr. Evelyn Buffiko, Ed Dus and Dr. Nikki Pitcher were among the candidates presented and approved for director-level roles. The appointments included placement on step six of the AMA salary schedule where specified. Board members moved and seconded each appointment; motions carried by voice vote following brief discussion.
Several trustees said they did not have sufficient time or consistent access to the underlying organizational charts and salary-schedule materials before voting. One trustee asked that the district ensure all board members receive timely and identical documentation and called for a district-led study on salary schedules to examine cross-schedule impacts and union considerations. "We need the same information at the same time," a trustee said during debate.
The salary discussion was especially pointed around the addition of a program-manager classification for special education. Staff said the program-manager classification had already been board-approved as a job description; the agenda amendment under item N was required to place the classification on the AMA salary schedule so the district could post and hire the positions. Senior staff cautioned that several supporting special-education positions were already at or near their last days of employment and said delaying approval would prevent hiring for essential roles.
Trustees who supported the hires emphasized the operational impact of delaying appointments. A board member said that some candidates had already given notice or rearranged commitments and that delaying votes until August would leave critical leadership vacancies during the summer.
The meeting also featured public comment urging improved family engagement and transparency in district processes. Danny Watson, who spoke during public comment, encouraged the district to expand meeting formats and communication channels to boost participation and reach families who do not engage with existing survey mechanisms.
Next steps: staff will proceed with the posted appointments and salary placements; trustees directed leadership to provide clearer organizational charts, salary-schedule documentation and to schedule a follow-up study session addressing salary structure and the special-education funding impact.
