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Teachers and staff warn cuts to special education, aides and librarians will undermine legally mandated services
Summary
Multiple speakers and board members warned that proposed cuts to aides, special education positions and library staff would erode services for students with disabilities and increase long-term costs; presenters said the FY27 budget includes targeted increases in paraprofessionals and an effort to open cluster classrooms, but speakers said on-the-ground impacts are already acute.
Several public commenters used their two-minute remarks to highlight the likely effects of staff reductions on students with disabilities and other high-need groups. Katrina Wright, who identified herself as a special-education teacher, said "an IEP is a legal promise" and argued that moving aides and teachers severs the consistent relationships students need to access their services.
District staff said the FY27 proposal increases special-education positions in some categories (largely paraprofessionals), will support 16 new cluster classrooms and adjust transportation funding for students with disabilities. "We are continuing to allocate academic intervention and professional development supports at schools with the greatest needs," Emmy Lozoco said. Board members pressed staff on whether class-size protections and minimum staffing requirements will be met and asked for more granular follow-up on how school-level reallocations will play out in particular buildings.
