Antioch School Board Votes Against $18.75 Million in Cuts in Split Vote

The Antioch Unified School District is likely headed towards receivership after failing to agree to $18.75 million in cuts Wednesday night.

In a 2-3 vote, the board opted not to make cuts. Trustees Antonio Hernandez and Dr. Jag Lathan were in favor while Trustees Dee Brown, Olga Cobos-Smith and Mary Rocha voted against.

According to the staff report, the cuts were aimed at reducing the AUSD’s structural deficit of $32 million – last nights action would have addressed $18.75 million. In doing so, it would include eliminating 48 teachers and 30 certificated employees along with nearly 100 other staff positions within the district (see presentation)

Potential Timeline:

• May 7, 2026 through September 23, 2026 – Identify additional reductions to meet up to $24M for Fiscal Year 2027-2028 and 2028- 2029
• June 1, 2026 – Third Interim Projection due to CCCOE (Fund 01 Only)
• June 10, 2026 – LCAP & Proposed Budget Public Hearing
• June 17, 2026 – Final Budget Adoption
• September 23, 2026 – Board Adopt Fiscal Solvency Plan
• October 8, 2026 – Board Adopted Fiscal Solvency Plan Presented to CCCOE

Trustee Dee Brown expressed frustration saying, “I hate that we are here. I wish that we didn’t have to do any of this.” Whie warning they could be taken over to do what they are required to do, if not more.

She said her heart goes out to every family member, every teacher, calling it a difficult decision.

Trustee Antonio Hernandez asked about the structural deficit.

Staff confirmed they needed $32 million in cuts to restore the 3% reserves in the upcoming fiscal year. However, they were not able to identify the full $32 million – which is why they are suggesting $18 million in cuts now leaving $12 million to $14 million in unidentified cuts. The other problem is it will compound and will jump to $24 million in 2027-28 gap (while restoring the gap).

Hernandez asked if these cuts would lead to more contracting services or increase in staffing related costs (substitutes) – Superintendent Williams shared these cuts would require close monitoring of contractors for special education. They also need to look at hiring and will likely lead to more meetings and go through processes.

“I don’t think there is any other way to say this, but this sucks. This is not why any of us came into this,” said Hernandez. “This $18 million isn’t even the entirety of this deficit that needs to be addressed.”

He said the cuts, in the way they are being done, was an attempt to minimize the impact on the District—including hard cuts and soft cuts, but the county or state doesn’t see it that way. He continued saying this was a really challenging circumstance.

Trustee Mary Rocha asked what the District was spending on attorneys noting that it appears all the decisions by Superintendent Darnise Williams is with attorney help.

“I don’t know how to get that from you, how much of the budget is on attorney’s?” asked Rocha.

Williams confirmed they have 4 attorneys, but stated the numbers were lower this year than last year. She didn’t provide a number, but said she would get Rocha the number – Rocha countered the number would be lower right now because they are only halfway through the year.

Board President Dr. Jag Lathan defended the use of attorneys stating she appreciated the fact they were spending less.

“It feels like we are utilizing the attorneys more effectively this year because in the past, some of the hot water they have been in was because we didn’t utilize them,” stated Lathan. “I don’t know why, like the previous board, I don’t understand how the costs were high before then. I do want to say because we have been using them more effectively, we don’t have the same kind of challenges that we had before.”

Lathan also stated she was angry and it feels like it’s never ending as school districts never get the funding, they need to do the work that Districts need to do.

Lathan then called for a motion to adopt the proposed budget reductions. The motion was made by Hernandez and seconded by Lathan.  The board voted 2-3 against the resolution with Hernandez and Lathan in favor while Brown, Cobos-Smith and Rocha voted against.

After the vote, as board members appeared confused as they believed there would be public comments which Lathan said comments were on Items 6B and 6C.

Trustee Cobos-Smith then issued her statement saying, “I know these cuts need to happen. I am not fooled by that. I am not claiming to some hope that we will find $30 million to cut but to me, it is unconscionable that we would cut paras, behavioral support specialist before adjusting the pay scale. Its unconscionable  and I will not do it. When we talk about the humanity of this and our budget reflecting our values, those are my values and I just will not do it.”

Lathan stated that this decision may cause them to go into receivership by the next board meeting if they do not have these cuts to the school district.

Cobos-Smith stated adjusting the pay scales would have given them an immediate $800k in cuts and money they could put into the solution.

Lathan said a study would be done on a pay scale and $800k would not address the structural deficit of $32 million.

Rocha asked for more time and requested the Superintendent provide better details than the Board has been provided.

“We have been given a paper saying here is the cuts we are going to be doing but we have not discussed them like we should and how it would involve our students. I think we can go along with it if we have to because of the budget but we have to find someway to at least address some of the issues we are going to have with the students,” said Rocha.

Lathan wanted it to be clear of the ramifications of their decision tonight.

Rocha Issues Statement During Meeting

Dear Superintendent and Fellow Board Members,

As elected members of this Board, we were entrusted by our community to serve the best interests of our students while exercising fiscal responsibility, accountability, and sound educational judgment. Our role is not only to oversee the financial health of the district, but also to ensure that decisions made today do not compromise the educational opportunities, wellbeing, and future success of the students we were elected to serve.

After reviewing the information presented regarding the proposed reductions intended to save approximately $18 million, I believe there are significant concerns that require further clarification and thoughtful consideration before moving forward.

The proposed reductions include the removal of coordinators, teachers, paraprofessionals, wellness staff, and other essential personnel whose work directly supports students and school operations on a daily basis. These are not peripheral positions; they are integral to maintaining academic support systems, student engagement, school safety, and equitable access to learning.

Additionally, reducing the number of teachers will inevitably increase classroom sizes unless the district is anticipating a substantial decline in enrollment, of which the Board and community have not yet been fully informed. Larger class sizes limit individualized instruction, reduce teacher accessibility, and may negatively impact student achievement and classroom climate.

I am also deeply concerned about the proposed closure of wellness centers. These centers serve as critical support spaces for students experiencing emotional, behavioral, or mental health challenges during the school day. If wellness centers are eliminated, what is the district’s plan to ensure students continue receiving these supports? Will school counselors be expected to absorb these responsibilities in addition to their current academic and counseling caseloads? If so, has an analysis been conducted regarding the feasibility and impact of such expectations?

Equally important are the implications surrounding the reduction or removal of English Language Development services. English learners depend on specialized instructional support in order to acquire the language skills necessary to access curriculum across all grade levels and subject areas. If these services are reduced, who will assume responsibility for ensuring these students receive the support required for academic success and compliance with educational obligations?

Most importantly, I respectfully ask: where is the written plan demonstrating that these proposed $18 million in reductions will not negatively affect students? Before approving cuts of this magnitude, I believe the Board and the community deserve to see a comprehensive impact analysis outlining how student learning, student wellbeing, academic outcomes, and equitable access to services will be preserved for approximately 17,000 students across the district.

As Board members, we must ensure that financial decisions remain aligned with our educational mission and responsibilities to students, families, staff, and the broader community. Fiscal stewardship is essential; however, it must be balanced with our obligation to protect the instructional and support systems that students rely upon every day.

I respectfully urge that we continue these discussions transparently, collaboratively, and with a student-centered focus before final decisions are made.

Respectfully,

Mary Rocha Antioch Unified School District

The written statement was read prior to Board District on Item 6A and Rocha said she would be voting against the cuts.

Board President Takes to Social Media After Vote

After the meeting, Dr. Jag Lathan issued a video statement regarding the meeting and said huge consequences are coming.

“We had several items on the agenda to help us remain in local control and to help us stay fiscally solvent. And today, the majority of our board decided not to vote on those resolutions to make reductions to stay fiscally solvent. I’ve been in education for 25-years as a teacher, principal, all the different positions and now school board member and elected official. I’ve seen this happen before when I was an early administrator on a school site. The board did not take action to keep their district fiscally solvent and therefore taken over by the State of California.

That means you are in receivership because you do not have enough money to pay the bills to pay your staff, keep the lights on and so the state works with the district to secure a loan and you have years to pay it back. A state administrator comes in and takes over basically, and makes all the decisions and makes sure the district remains as solvent as possible. They don’t have to follow contracts, they don’t have to do any of the things a school board does when they have local control. So, our board, the majority of the board decided to not make the reductions.

Antioch Unified, just like many districts across the county and state needs to make cuts, we need to make cuts, and $32 million worth of cuts and we decided today not to make cuts on $18 million.

I am extremely disappointed, I am sad, I think people don’t realize that means that the things our staff has fought for, the things that the Board has agreed to, like the fully paid family medical benefits, that will probably go away. That is a big part of our cost and when an administrator comes in from the county, they have to make those decisions since our board failed to do that. They will make the decision to cut fully paid medical benefits. They will make the decision to cut staff. They will make the decision to make reductions in anyway they feel is necessary and they do not have to listen to the community or the staff. Their role, is to just make the cuts.

We went through processes where we engaged the community. We went through process where we looked to see where its most efficient to make these reduction’s. I am just so sad, I know people are upset, staff is happy we didn’t make the reductions and I am thinking that means we are going into receivership y’all. I am just so sad, because I know what this means.”

The video message then ended.

Related:

• April 28, 2026 – County Office of Education Downgrades Antioch Unified School District to “Negative”
• Feb 19, 2026 – Antioch Unified School District Votes in Favor of Layoff Notices
• Jan 29, 2026 – Antioch School Board Approves Trustee Raises to $2k Per Month