Community invited to anniversary celebration and ribbon cutting October 3
By Martha Goralka, Executive Director
ANTIOCH, Calif. — Delta Learning Center invites the community to celebrate its 50th anniversary on Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Antioch. A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m.
Established in 1976, Delta Learning Center has provided five decades of educational support to learners in East Contra Costa County. The nonprofit offers personalized, one-on-one tutoring by credentialed teachers, helping students strengthen academic skills and build confidence. The anniversary celebration will recognize the students, families, educators, volunteers and community supporters who have contributed to the center’s history while looking ahead to its continued service.
Current and former students, families, neighbors, local businesses and community partners are invited to attend and help celebrate this milestone. Members of the media are welcome to cover the celebration and ribbon cutting.
About Delta Learning Center Founded in 1976, Delta Learning Center is a nonprofit tutoring organization serving East Contra Costa County. The center provides individualized educational support for prekindergarten, K–12 and adult learners. For more information, visit http://www.deltalearningcenter.org or call 925-757-1310
Cops will be on, provide extra patrols in and around campus today
By Antioch Police Department
The Antioch Police Department is aware of messages and rumors circulating regarding a possible act of violence at Antioch High School today.
We are working closely with Antioch High School administrators and school security and are actively investigating the information that has been reported. At this time, we have no information that supports the rumor.
As a precaution, Antioch Police officers will be present at the school today, and officers will conduct additional patrols in and around the campus. We will remain in close communication with school officials throughout the day.
We understand that messages like these can be concerning for students, families, and staff. We ask everyone to rely on information from official school and Antioch Police Department sources and to avoid sharing unverified rumors or screenshots on social media.
See something, say something. If you have firsthand information, screenshots, messages, or other specific information that may assist the investigation, please contact the Antioch Police Department at (925) 778-2441. Tipsters may remain anonymous.
Please call 9-1-1 for an immediate threat or emergency.
Our Dispatch Center is receiving a high volume of calls regarding this situation. If you do not have new information to report or need police assistance, please monitor official school and Antioch Police Department channels for updates rather than calling Dispatch for a status update.
We will provide additional information if there are significant developments.
Antioch’s Dozier-Libbey Medical High School ranked in top 10 in county, #229 in state, in top 8% nationally
By Contra Costa County Office of Education
PLEASANT HILL, Calif.— Several high schools across Contra Costa County earned top statewide and national rankings in the newly released 2026-27 U.S. News Best High Schools Rankings. The report recognized the schools for strong academic performance and college readiness. U.S. News reviewed more than 27,000 public high schools nationwide and ranked nearly 18,000 schools based on student outcomes, state assessment performance, college readiness and graduation rates.
Leading the county was Dougherty Valley High School in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District, which ranked No. 25 in California and No. 190 nationally. Miramonte High School in the Acalanes Union High School District followed at No. 29 in California and No. 205 nationally, and Campolindo High School, also in the Acalanes Union High School District, received a ranking of No. 34 in California and No. 243 nationally.
“These rankings reflect school communities that have the resources, rigor and strategic support in place to foster student achievement,” Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey said. “Their performance among the top schools in the state is truly something to celebrate. My hope is that schools throughout our county can learn from these examples and help even more students thrive academically while preparing the next generation for success.”
Five Contra Costa County schools ranked among the top 100 public high schools in California:
· Dougherty Valley High School (San Ramon Valley Unified School District) — No. 25
· Miramonte High School (Acalanes Union High School District) — No. 29
· Campolindo High School (Acalanes Union High School District) — No. 34
· Acalanes High School (Acalanes Union High School District) — No. 87
· Monte Vista High School (San Ramon Valley Unified School District) — No. 92
According to U.S. News, the rankings are based on six factors, including college readiness, state assessment proficiency and performance, graduation rates, curriculum breadth and the performance of underserved students.
Top 10 Contra Costa County High Schools
· Dougherty Valley High School (San Ramon Valley Unified School District) — No. 25 California, No. 190 National
· Miramonte High School (Acalanes Union High School District) — No. 29 California, No. 205 National
· Campolindo High School (Acalanes Union High School District) — No. 34 California, No. 243 National
· Acalanes High School (Acalanes Union High School District) — No. 87 California, No. 594 National
· Monte Vista High School (San Ramon Valley Unified School District) — No. 92 California, No. 622 National
· Las Lomas High School (Acalanes Union High School District)— No. 147 California, No. 913 National
· Northgate High School (Mt. Diablo Unified School District) — No. 166 California, No. 995 National
· California High School (San Ramon Valley Unified School District)) — No. 222 California, No. 1,353 National
· Dozier-Libbey Medical High School (Antioch Unified School District) — No. 229 California, No. 1,396 National
· Making Waves Academy (Charter School in Richmond, CA) — No. 240 California, No. 1,489 National
One of 58 counties in California, Contra Costa County has the 11th largest public-school student population in the state (approximately 169,225 students). Officially established in 1932, CCCOE has a long history of providing direct services to some of the county’s most vulnerable students, including young people who are incarcerated, homeless, or in foster care, as well as students who have severe physical or emotional challenges.
CCCOE also provides support services to schools and school districts in Contra Costa County; services that can be handled most effectively and economically on a regional basis rather than by each of the county’s 286 schools or 18 school districts. These services range from budget approval and fiscal support to technology infrastructure, communication support, and high-level professional development opportunities for educators. CCCOE maintains a website at www.cocoschools.org.
AUSD 2026-27 Teacher of the Year Arielle Foley receives a hug from Dr. Evelyn Baffico, then-principal of Black Diamond Middle School and Foley with Superintendent Dr. Darnise R. Williams during the awards dinner on April 23, 2026. All photos: AUSD
Black Diamond Middle School math teacher; Mno Grant teacher Jennifer Bannerman is runner-up
By Antioch Unified School District
Publisher’s Note: Apologies for missing this earlier in the year.
The Antioch Unified School District honored their Teacher of the Year Arielle Foley and nominees during a dinner on April 23, 2026, at the Antioch Community Center.
A post on the AUSD Facebook page following the event reads, “A packed house celebrated our wonderful Teachers of the Year on Thursday night.
The AUSD 2026-27 Teacher of the Year Arielle Foley and fellow nominees, including Jennifer Bannerman, (right in dress with flowers) are joined by Tim Cooper the District’s Director of Student Support Services, as they are honored during the April 23rd dinner.
“Held at the Antioch Community Center, our nominees were recognized. The amazing group included Antioch High, Christine Hester; Belshaw, Scott Dalander; Carmen Dragon, Julie Eaton; Dallas Ranch, Max Bridges; Deer Valley, Mark Libbey; Diablo Vista, Natalie Montoya; Dozier-Libbey Kevin Landski; Encore, Penella Goulding; Kimball, Geannine Fernandez; London, Nicole O’Brien; Lone Tree, Dawn McElroy; Marsh, Melissa Valdivia-Agurto; Mission, Diana McCauley; Muir, Christina MacAlvey; Orchard Park, Barb King; Park, Erich Bartel; Prospects, Jason Fithian; Sutter, Kim Tran; Thomas Gaines Virtual Academy, Samantha Franceschi; and Turner, Sarah Nichols.
2026-27 AUSD TOY Arielle Foley (center) with some of her colleagues during the dinner.
“Also in the spotlight was runner-up Jennifer Bannerman from Mno Grant Elementary.
“Arielle Foley, who received the top honor, thanked everyone and applauded her fellow educators. She is a math teacher at Black Diamond Middle.
“Thanks to the Antioch Schools Education Foundation for once hosting the annual event and cheers to all the fabulous educators!”
Foley moved on to the county level in the Contra Costa County Education Office’s Teacher of the Year competition.
Hear from U.S. Constitutional scholars on Constitution Dayin-person or online
By Gail Murray, League of Women Voters Diablo Valley
On Constitution Day, September 17, two eminent U.S. Constitutional scholars will discuss the challenges of maintaining effective presidential leadership while preventing abuse of power. Their conversation will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.at St. Mary’s College in Moraga in the Claeys Room of the Soda Center and will be available simultaneously on Zoom.
Speakers will be:
Vikram Amar, the Daniel J. Dykstra Distinguished Professor of Law at UC Davis Law School. Amar is one of the most eminent and frequently cited authorities in constitutional law.
Dan Farber, the Sho Sato Professor of Law and Co-Director of the Edley Center on Law & Democracy at UC Berkeley Law School. Farber is the author of Contested Ground: How to Understand the Limits on Presidential Power.
Recent public debates have renewed longstanding constitutional questions about the proper scope of executive power. The speakers will engage in a discussion about perennial questions:
How should we balance the need for effective leadership with the need to prevent abuse of power?
Have we achieved that balance?
What would the founders think about the powers of the modern presidency?
Professor Barbara McGraw, Director of the Center for Engaged Religious Pluralism and professor of Social Ethics, Law, and Public Life at Saint Mary’s College will moderate the discussion.
Professor Steve Woolpert of St. Mary’s College, an organizer of the event, is available for interviews. Contact woolpert@stmarys-ca.edu He can speak about this panel and other activities around the 250th anniversary of the U.S. and the Declaration of Independence.
The Contra Costa County Library will provide closed captioning for this event, and the Library and the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley (LWVDV) are underwriting simultaneous Spanish translation. This program will be recorded and uploaded to the Library and LWVDV YouTube channels after the event.
For more information, contact Diane Bianchi of the LWVDV at programs@lwvdv.org
Sponsors of the event are St. Mary’s College, The Disney Forum, the League of Women Voters Diablo Valley, the League of Women Voters West Contra Costa County, the Contra Costa County Library and CCTV.
Antioch Superintendent Dr. Darnise Williams is on paid administrative leave, and Jose Banda has been appointed Interim Superintendent in her place. Photos: AUSD (left) and LinkedIn (right)
Following four meetings on her performance evaluation
Interim Superintendent appointed, starts Monday
By Allen D. Payton
During another special meeting of the Antioch School Board on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, on a split vote, the trustees placed Superintendent Dr. Darnise R. Williams on paid administrative leave after less than 14 months in the job. Following a Closed Session during the fourth meeting at which they conducted the superintendent’s public employee performance evaluation, Board President Dr. Jag Lathan reported, “The Board took action in Closed Session by a vote of four yays and one no to place Superintendent Williams on administrative leave effective…August 25th, 2026 until further notice.” Lathan was the only trustee to vote against the action. Williams will continue to be paid during her leave.
Tuesday night’s meeting agenda included three items of discussion: A. Public Employee Evaluation – Superintendent; B. Public Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release; and C. Public Employee Appointment – Acting and/or Interim Superintendent, all under Gov. Code § 54957, which allows local agency legislative bodies to hold closed sessions for employee matters.
Lathan also reported, “The Board took action in Closed Session by a vote of three yays and two no’s, to finalize Superintendent Williams’ evaluation. Trustee Brown, Cobos-Smith and Trustee Rocha voted yes, Trustees Hernandez and Lathan voted no.”
Finally, the Board also, “took action in Closed Session by a unanimous vote…to appoint Ed Dacus as Acting Superintendent effective August 26th through August 30th, 20206 and Jose Banda as Interim Superintendent effective August 31st, 20206 through and until his services are no longer needed,” Lathan stated. His contract will be discussed at the next regular board meeting which is scheduled for Sept. 9. (See 2:12:25 mark of meeting video)
AUSD Board President Dr. Lathan reports out from Closed Session during the meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026. Video screenshot
Williams was hired during the June 11, 2025 School Board meeting on a 3-1 vote with Area 5 Trustee Mary Rocha the lone dissenter and Area 4 Trustee Olga Cobos-Smith absent. This is Williams’ fourth position in five years, and she was paid $357,234 this past school year. (See related article)
The Board conducted the performance evaluation of Williams during three previous meetings. At their Special Meeting on May 27, which was not live-streamed, the report out reads, “There was no reportable action taken during closed session.” Then during the August 5 Special Board Meeting, which was also not live-streamed, the report out of Closed Session reads,“The Board took action by unanimous vote of all trustees present to assign Trustee Cobos-Smith with the duty of compiling the Board’s evaluation of the superintendent consistent with Board Policy 2140.”
Then during their Regular Meeting on August 19th, the Board again conducted the performance evaluation of the superintendent. But Lathan did not report out from Closed Session any action on the matter.
Public Comments
Before the board entered Closed Session this past Tuesday night, only one person spoke during public comments, Dr. Kimberly Payton (no relation to this reporter) of the East County NAACP said, “Put children first. Put equity first. Put their future first.”
“For far too long students in this district have suffered educational setbacks and unacceptable levels of progress,” she stated. “Now, at a critical moment, we finally have a superintendent who appears to be committed to recognizing the true value of education and to be delivering quality, equitable and inclusive educational opportunities for every child and now, she may be terminated. We must ask ourselves, why would we turn away from progress when children need it most.”
“The East County NAACP is asking you to make a choice and take a chance,” she continued. “Choose children over politics. Choose equity over excuses. Choose inclusion over exclusion. Choose progress over continued failure. Our students deserve an education that prepares them to succeed not a system that accepts persistent gaps from the normal.”
“We cannot ask another generation of African American students to wait. We cannot tell families to wait while their children fall further behind,” said Payton. “Today, I urge you to…give the students of this district opportunity, support, resources and leadership that they need to succeed. Their future cannot wait.”
“Stand with our children. Stand for equity. Stand for educational excellence, and do not support the continued failure and non-progress of African American students,” she concluded.
The Board then adjourned to Closed Session and returned an hour and 40 minutes later with their decision.
About Interim Superintendent Banda
On Wednesday, the District issued the following statement from the Board about Banda’s appointment (but did not provide it to local media):
“The Board of Trustees of the Antioch Unified School District acted by a unanimous vote of 5-0 on August 25, 2026, to appoint Jose Banda, a qualified administrator and retired superintendent, to serve as Interim Superintendent. This appointment followed the Board’s prior action by a vote of 4-1 to place Superintendent Darnise Williams on a leave of absence, effective August 25, 2026, until further notice. Mr. Banda will commence his service as Interim Superintendent on August 31, 2026. Until then, Director of Educational Services Ed Dacus will serve as Acting Superintendent.”
According to his Linkedin profile, Banda is the former Superintendent of the Sacramento City Unified School District and earned a B.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies from has Cal State University Sacramento and a Master of Arts degree in Educational Leadership and Administration, General from Chapman University.
Suing District, Threatens to Sue Two Trustees
Rocha claims Williams is suing the district and threatened to sue her and Area 2 Trustee Dee Brown for $5 million, but would not share the details of the potential lawsuit. Rocha only said, “I was expecting the papers. But she hasn’t yet. She might now.”
Efforts to reach Brown were unsuccessful prior to publication time.
When reached for comment Cobos-Smith responded, “This is a confidential personnel matter, and I have no further comment. Mr. Banda is an experienced and retired superintendent qualified to lead the District during Dr. Williams’ leave of absence. I have no further comment.”
Please check back later for any updates to this report.
Interested in learning more about the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office? Apply for our Fall 2026 Citizen’s Academy!
This free, six-week program offers a hands-on, behind-the-scenes look at the vital work of the Office of the Sheriff and its role in keeping our community safe. Topics include patrol, investigations, dispatch, and more, along with guided tours of several Sheriff’s Office facilities.
October 7 to November 18 (No class November 11)
Wednesday evenings in Martinez, 6 PM to 9 PM
Saturday session: October 24 in Clayton, 9 AM to 3 PM
Open to adults 18+ who live or work in Contra Costa County
For more information, visit our Community Services/Crime Prevention Unit webpage:
Pepper spray is legal in CA but not for minors to possess
Could face up to $1,000 fine and/or up to 3 years in prisonfor misuse, up to $2,000 fine and/or 6 months in county jail for battery
By Lt. Franco Cesar, Antioch Police Department
On August 21, 2026, at approximately 1:47 p.m., Antioch Police Department officers responded to Antioch High School following reports of multiple students exposed to pepper spray. The incident occurred in a school hallway during a passing period.
A preliminary investigation revealed the incident stemmed from an ongoing dispute between two students. During the altercation, pepper spray was deployed, inadvertently affecting several nearby students.
Officers identified seven students affected by the spray. Emergency medical personnel evaluated the victims on scene and transported three students to a local hospital for further evaluation and treatment. No serious injuries were reported.
Responding officers located the juvenile responsible for deploying the pepper spray. She was issued a citation for Possession/Use of Tear Gas by a Minor and Battery, then released to her parents. Due to the suspect’s age, her identity will not be released.
Source: Antioch PD CitizenRIMS
The Antioch Police Department remains committed to campus safety and continues to work in close partnership with Antioch Unified School District administrators during school incidents.
Case No.: 26-7951
According to the Antioch Police CitizenRIMS Map, the incident occurred at 1:38 PM and is listed as a misdemeanor possession of a weapon at school K-12 626.10(A)(1) PC and 243(A) PC – battery. Incident Number:2608210130.
Pepper Spray is Legal in CA But Not for Minors to Possess
According to Zarc International, “Pepper spray in CA is Legal. Subject to certain restrictions, Section 12403.7 of the Penal Code provides ‘any person may purchase, possess or use tear gas and tear gas weapons for the projection or release of tear gas if the tear gas and tear gas weapons are used solely for self-defense purposes.’
“The definition of tear gas also includes pepper spray. The restrictions include a prohibition against selling such a unit to a minor, and a provision limiting the size to 2.5 ounces by weight.
“The misuse of tear gas in California comes with state penalties of up to a $1,000 fine and/or up to three years in prison, not to mention a possible felony conviction on record. Some examples of misuse include: using tear gas on people in anger, spraying it as a joke, possession of tear gas by prohibited persons, minors, drug addicts or persons convicted of felonies.
“To be legally purchased, possessed or used in California, any canister must have a label that says ‘WARNING: The use of this substance or device for any purpose other than self-defense is a crime under the law. The contents are dangerous–use with care.’ The maximum legal net weight for a canister is 2.5 ounces, or 70 grams of OC, CS or CN. CR is not legal for civilian use.”
