Valerie Cuevas Archives

Graduate tutors still threatened by school district budget cuts

By Edward Booth | March 22, 2019 |

Graduate tutors arrived at the meeting to protest the proposed cut.

Graduate tutors appeared in force at the meeting alongside officers from the Teamsters 856, who represent unclassified (or non-teaching) employees. “We’re here, we’re devoted, we’re intelligent, we’re amazing,” said tutor Marsha Williamson. “You will never find people like us to help the children in this district ever again.”

School board passes resolution asking for a state moratorium on charter schools

By Edward Booth | February 28, 2019 |

On Wednesday, the West Contra Costa Unified School District Board of Education passed a resolution calling upon the state to establish a moratorium on charter school expansion. The final resolution received widespread support from the public—including former and current city councilmembers, union leaders, teachers and parents—and from most of the board, who passed it with…

School board discusses charter school moratorium

By Edward Booth | February 7, 2019 |

United Teachers of Richmond President Demetrio Gonzalez speaks before the school board

The proposed resolution, inspired by several others—including one that passed last month following the teachers strike in the Los Angeles Unified School District—calls for a moratorium on charter school expansion from the California State Board of Education and seeks to establish additional oversight over existing charter schools.

West Contra Costa school board will soon release its trustee-area map after a year of controversy

By Edward Booth | December 17, 2018 |

The journey toward the new voting system in the school district began in 2002, when the California Voting Rights Act of 2001 was enacted, making it easier for minority groups to prove at-large elections dilute their vote. Though most California elections have historically been held at-large, the voting rights act has caused a surge of lawsuits in recent years, either threatened or real, prompting more than 100 school districts and cities to shift to trustee-area elections.

School board approves trustee-area map

By Edward Booth | November 19, 2018 |

The final map will divide the district into five separate voting areas, each of which will elect one board member in future elections. This area-based system will replace the current at-large elections where school board winners are determined by a district-wide popular vote.

School board stops short of charter revocation

By Edward Booth | October 5, 2018

The board directed its staff to reach an agreement with the Amethod Public Schools, which operates the John Henry school, on how to move forward.

Alleged violation sets date for charter revocation hearing

By Edward Booth | October 2, 2018

The school board initiated a charter revocation process for John Henry High School last week. Board President Valerie Cuevas advocated for the revocation after the alleged mandatory reporting violations were brought to the attention of the board during public comment.

School board candidates discuss charters, nutrition and safety at forum

By Edward Booth | September 22, 2018 |

The moderator asked questions about charter schools, nutritious lunches, school safety and educational inclusion at a forum Tuesday.

West County school board grapples still with redrawing voting districts

By Edward Booth | September 8, 2018 |

Though the school board made no official motion to finalize a trustee-area map, a long and occasionally heated conversation ended with a direction to Superintendent Matthew Duffy to come up with a plan and insert it on the upcoming Sept. 26 meeting agenda.

County conference gives parents tips to help students

By Grace Oyenubi | October 19, 2016

Parents in rapt attention at the 11th annual Parents as Partners and Leaders Conference held at Lovonya DeJean Middle School last Saturday. Photo by Grace Oyenubi.

More than two hundred parents attended the 11th annual Parents as Partners and Leaders Conference held at Lovonya DeJean Middle School last Saturday. The annual conference offers parents a range of guidance, information and advice.

West Contra Costa school board meets for a six-hour, packed discussion on charter schools

By Candese Charles | January 23, 2015 |

On Wednesday night, West Contra Costa Unified School District’s (WCCUSD) first board of education meeting of the year was packed with chatty bouncy children, a sea of blue shirt-wearing Caliber Beta Academy teachers, and people holding orange public comment sheets. Newly-elected school board president Todd Groves began the meeting promptly at 6:30 pm as eager…

Heavy spending pays off in school board race

By Zainab Khan | November 5, 2014 |

Money ran the race on Tuesday’s school board elections, with the best funded candidates Block, Kronenberg and Cuevas winning the seats of the West Contra Costa Unified School District.