This story was co-published with KQED. Bundled against the morning cold, teachers marched outside the Nystrom Elementary School entrance in Richmond early Thursday, cheering as passing cars honked, and carrying yellow and red picket signs reading “We Can’t Wait.” Educators at all 56 West Contra Costa Unified School District sites picketed before and during school drop-off on the first day of an open-ended strike, marching for higher pay, smaller class sizes and a reduction of the use of long-term substitute teachers and outside…
The Pinole Valley High School Marching Band will perform at the halftime show of the Golden State Warriors game Tuesday at the 18,000-seat Chase Center in San Francisco after months of preparation. The 33-member band will perform a two-song mashup of “This is Berk” by John Powell and “Locked out of Heaven” by Bruno Mars. Under the supervision of rotating substitute teachers, the students have been running their own rehearsals since September, when the band director went on administrative leave. …
Teachers will go on strike Thursday in the West Contra Costa Unified School District, but the superintendent says schools will remain open. United Teachers of Richmond announced at 7 p.m. Monday that it had rejected the district’s latest offer of a 3% salary increase, and 90% coverage of health care benefits beginning in 2027 “Striking is the last resort — we want to teach,” UTR President Francisco Ortiz said in an email to members. “But we know this truth: The status quo…
Leaders from United Teachers of Richmond updated parents and community members Tuesday evening on contract negotiations between the union and the West Contra Costa Unified School District. WCCUSD and UTR have been negotiating a new three-year teaching contract since January and declared an impasse on Aug. 19, triggering third-party mediation and a fact-finding process. “This is more than just a contract fight for us,” UTR President Francisco Ortiz told an audience of about 50 people at CoBiz Richmond. “We’re in…
With 98% of its members approving, the union representing teachers in the West Contra Costa Unified School District voted Tuesday to authorize its leaders to call a strike. Since January, United Teachers of Richmond has been negotiating a new contract with the district. On Aug. 19, the UTR declared an impasse, triggering third party mediation from the California Public Employment Relations Board. Since then, the sides have been in mediation sessions and are currently in the midst of a fact-finding…
Cars honked, megaphones blared and teachers chanted, “Education is a right, that is why we have to fight,” during a rally before Wednesday’s West Contra Costa Unified School District board meeting at DeJean Middle School. Since January, WCCUSD and United Teachers of Richmond have been negotiating a new three-year teachers’ contract. The previous contract expired in June. The union is pushing for higher pay, smaller class sizes and increased staffing to fill vacancies with credentialed teachers. The district is citing…
“People of Richmond” is a regular series in which reporters pose a question to people in the community. Answers are presented verbatim, though sometimes edited for brevity. Q: How do you de-stress in Richmond? Tiffany Jenkins (administrative analyst) “I like to go on hikes and go on walks. There are some really nice neighborhoods, and I really enjoy the beach.” Andrew Clark (rancher and construction worker) “I’m the type of person that likes the water. It is relaxing, therapeutic.” (Pictured…