On Wednesday, the Antioch Unified School District will look to reduce staffing in several areas as it deals with a $30 million deficit.
As part of the overall process, the Board of Trustees are being asked to approve “preliminary resolutions” that authorize the elimination of positions. In total, there are 296.725 positions that would reduce expenditures by $36,989,049.12
- Classified Service: 192.725 FTE would reduce expenditures by approximately $17,881,838.79
- Certificated Services: 104 FTE would reduce expenditures by approximately $20,107,219.33
In both cases, affected employees will need to be provided written notice no later than March 15, 2026.
The item comes before the Board of Trustees who last week held a special meeting to discuss the potential of a parcel tax – which could range from $169 to $202 per parcel in an effort to raise around $5 million.
The District was informed last week that its $30 million shortfall was only the starting point by July 1, 2026—and currently did not capture the additional financial pressure they expect to face over the next several years which include:
- Declining enrollment
- Uncertainty of state funding
- Rising staff & operation costs
- Growing SPED requirements and needs.
Trustee Olga Cobos-Smith said last week during their meeting she had been trying to figure out how the District got to this negative $30 million deficit if all the assumptions were conservative and they had accounted for staff, healthcare and items projected in.
Superintendent Dr. Darnise R. Williams proclaimed, “I have been here six-months and it’s not my fault”
Cobos-Smith highlighted they have the money in the general fund but they transferred $55 million from the general fund to their restrictive fund. She wanted to dig into the budget and get more granular with it and called it “unfair” and they were already in a position where they had to cut $6 million ($3 million from staffing, $1 million from services and $1 million from another bucket).
Williams shared no one thing caused this deficit to happen.
“This deficit happened over a period of time and unfortunately there was one time money that was used for ongoing cost,” stated Williams. “When we use one-time money for ongoing costs, we have to have a plan to continue to fund. Its not just the salary or benefits, they are contributors because we did not identify how we are going to continue that cost. Its not just the contributions to special education, because those costs are rising… its also, I want to make this very clear to everyone, I have been here six months and now look at the budget as if I brought the budget situation. My response is, I want to make it clear, while its not my budget or influence, it is now my responsibility.”
She continued.
“In addition to, when the cuts last year were identified, they actually should have happened as of July 1,” said Williams. “So when you ask about the numbers, the reason the numbers didn’t change or they didn’t get the cost savings that were intended was because we didn’t actually say we’re going to reduce by 25 FTEES or we’re going to do some revenue generating actions. And had we identified those things by July 1, right now we would have offset the deficit with some of those um cost-saving measures. So what we’re finding ourselves in now is as a result of not doing that not only last year but the previous year because the signal of a structural deficit has been ongoing for about five years now.”
She said this was a result of the can being kicked down the road.
AUSD Potential Cuts
The reduction of 192.725 FTE would reduce expenditures by approximately $17,881,838.79
According to the agenda, in the event classified services need to be reduced or discontinued due to lack of work and/or lack of funds, the Education Code requires that the Board take action to reduce/eliminate positions and that affected employees be provided written notice no later than March 15. The District will consider bumping rights, retirements, resignations, releases, and other attrition and give notice only to those employees who, according to seniority and Board-adopted tiebreak and competency criteria, are appropriate for layoff.
Position Title / Number of Positions Eliminated
- Administrative Assistant – 10 FTE
- Behavior Support Specialist – 5.0 FTE
- Board Certified Behavior Analyst – 3.0 FTE
- Bus Driver – Assistant – 5.81250 FTE
- Custodian – 20.0 FTE
- District Attendance Liaison – Bilingual
- Electronics Technician
- Executive Assistant II – Education Services
- General Maintenance Worker – 2.0 FTE
- Grounds Maintenance Worker – 3.0 FTE
- Head Custodian I – 1.0 FTE
- Head Custodian II – 1.0 FTE
- Human Resources Technician I – Certified – 1.0 FTE
- Instructional Assistant – 0.75 FTE
- Instructional Assistant – Bilingual – 21.1775 FTE
- Maintenance Craftsperson (Option Class) – Painter – 1.0 FTE
- Network Engineer – 1.0 FTE
- Paraeducator I – 15.75 FTE
- Paraeducator II – 7.5 FTE
- Paraeducator III – 27.875 FTE
- Physical Therapist – 2.0 FTE
- Purchasing Assistant – 1.0 FTE
- Registrar I – 1.0 FTE
- School Administrative Assistant I – 2.0 FTE
- School Administrative Assistant II – 2.0 FTE
- School Office Assistant I – Bilingual (English and Spanish) – 3.0 FTE
- Student Monitor – 27.0 FTE
- Student Support Services Technician – 1.0 FTE
- Technology Technician – 2.0 FTE
- Translator – Interpreter – 3.0 FTE
- Wellness Center Paraprofessional – 15.75 FTE
The reduction of 104 FTE would reduce expenditures by approximately $20,107,219.33. The Superintendent recommends that the Board of Trustees approve a preliminary layoff resolution authorizing the elimination or reduction of particular types of certificated services due to lack of work and/or lack of funds in accordance with Education Code sections 44949 and 44955. The particular kinds of services and the number of full-time equivalents to be reduced are indicated in Resolution No. 2025-26-45, Reduction or Discontinuance of Particular Kinds of Certificated Services.
| Position Title | Location | No. | FTE |
| Counselors | All Sites | 5 | 5 |
| Assistant Director | Educational Services | 1 | 1.0 |
| Assistant Director | Special Education | 1 | 1.0 |
| Director | Educational Services | 6 | 6.0 |
| Director | Special Education | 1 | 1.0 |
| Coordinator | Educational Services | 5 | 5.0 |
| Coordinator | Special Education | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| Itinerant Teachers (music Prep) | All Sites | 5 | 5.0 |
| Itinerant Teachers (Computer/Coding Prep) | All Sites | 5 | 5.0 |
| Program Specialist | Special Education | 7 | 7.0 |
| Push in Reading Teacher | All Sites | 6 | Hourly |
| Reading Intervention Teachers | All Sites | 13 | 13.0 |
| Senior Director, Human Resources | Human Resources | 1 | 1.0 |
| Senior Director, Special Education | Special Education | 1 | 1.0 |
| Teacher – Early Childhood | Special Education | 1 | 1.0 |
| Teacher – Elementary | All Sites | 15 | 15.0 |
| Teacher – Secondary | All Sites | 10 | 10.0 |
| TOSA | Educational Services | 3 | 3.0 |
| Social Worker | Educational Services | 1 | 1.0 |
| Vice Principal – Elementary | All Sites | 13 | 13.0 |
| Vice Principals – Secondary | All Sites | 3 | 3.0 |
If You Go
Antioch Unified School District Board of Trustees
February 18, 2026
7:00 PM
510 G Street Antioch, CA 94509
Agenda – click here
Documents:
- Staff Report – agenda Item 11 C: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/Meetings/Attachment.aspx?S=36031897&AID=1417984&MID=43383
- Staff Report, Agenda Item 11 D: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/Meetings/Attachment.aspx?S=36031897&AID=1417979&MID=43383
Related
- Jan 2026 – Antioch School Board Approves Trustee Raises to $2k Per Month
- June 2025 – Antioch Unified School District Appoints Dr. Darnise Williams as Superintendent
