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Teachers and parents warn FY27 cuts will harm special education, libraries and after‑school programs
Summary
Multiple speakers at the public hearing described cuts to special education staff, school librarians and after‑school (OST) programming; district staff said they increased some special education paraprofessional positions and will fund OST via a state grant at approximately $8 million.
Teachers and school staff used the public comment period to highlight how proposed staffing reductions would affect special education services, libraries and after‑school opportunities. "When you remove experienced special ed teachers, we don't just move employees around. We disrupt relationships," said Eliana Akalani, a special education teacher.
Speakers cited specific losses: Andrea Sanchez said Fairfield Academy lost three special education teachers and a librarian; Maria Huebner said staffing decisions forced an early lunch shift for kindergarten and first grade at her school and that she crowdfunded nearly $1,000 for snacks. On OST, district staff said the proposed OST allocation is $8,000,000 in FY27, down from about $15,000,000 in recent years; staff added that OST will be funded going forward by a dedicated state grant, making OST funding dependent on that grant award. District staff also said they have increased allocations for special education paraprofessionals and planned 60 additional cluster classrooms citywide as part of reallocation efforts.
