Posts Tagged ‘WCCUSD’
WCCUSD schools are losing students to charter schools at alarming rate, stressing district budget
First in a two-part series examining West Contra Costa Unified School District student data After months of watching her 4-year-old daughter struggle with reading, Tomasa Espinoza knew she had to make a change. Her older daughter, who attended a charter school, was thriving. So Espinoza pulled her second child out of Washington Elementary in Richmond…
Read MoreWCCUSD school board Area 2 candidates say addressing budget deficit is their top priority
This year, there are three seats up for election on the West Contra Costa Unified School District board, but only the Area 2 race will appear on the ballot. The other two candidates are running unopposed and will automatically get the seats. For her second term, Incumbent Jamela Smith-Folds will represent Area 1, which includes…
Read MoreAfter ‘unprecedented’ decision, WCCUSD racing to pass LCAP and budget
If the West Contra Costa Unified School District doesn’t pass a Local Control Accountability Plan by Aug. 15, it’s not clear what would happen next because the school board’s decision to reject the plan last week was “unprecedented,” said Contra Costa County Schools Superintendent Lynn Mackey. The parent-led plan sets the course for about $64.8…
Read MoreFew teacher candidates among job-seekers at WCCUSD recruitment event
Helms Middle School Principal Priya Sembi went to Saturday’s West Contra Costa Unified School District job fair hoping to fill at least some of the five teacher vacancies at her school. The crowd, however, was sparse at DeJean Middle School, reducing her chances. “I’ve been to three of these since August, and I haven’t talked…
Read MoreClassroom vacancies force WCCUSD teachers into period-subbing, risking burnout
Teachers in the West Contra Costa Unified School District started the year having to fill in for each other, as schools opened with teacher positions vacant. Along with their regular classes, some teachers have had to fill in for shortages by subbing during certain periods. This period-subbing would have otherwise been spent grading and preparing…
Read MoreGrappling with staff shortage, WCCUSD hires nonprofit to provide substitute teachers
The West Contra Costa Unified School District board unanimously approved a $306,000 contract this week to fill teacher vacancies with substitutes. Under the contract with Scoot Education, TeachStart (Scoot’s nonprofit arm) will place one to two “high quality” substitute teachers at four schools: Kennedy High, Stege Elementary, Peres K-8 and Helms Middle. If those placements…
Read MoreWCCUSD partners with firm to help more students access mental health counseling
Nearly 40% of 11th graders in the West Contra Costa Unified School District have reported “chronic sadness,” according to a recent California Healthy Kids Survey. The survey says chronic sadness has been on the rise in the county and the state, across grade levels, since 2017. “This is definitely shocking,” said LaShante Smith, the district’s…
Read MoreWCCUSD avoids deep cuts in new budget, but insolvency looms
With its newly passed budget, the West Contra Costa Unified School District barely averted financial catastrophe for another year. But cuts and layoffs are likely coming. Money troubles — due in part to the slowing economy, declining enrollment, expiring funds, and increasing costs — have long plagued the district. The new $521.5 million budget, which…
Read MoreWith community schools strategy, WCCUSD becomes model for other districts
Wellness centers. Mental health counseling. Youth leadership development. These are examples of community schools initiatives in practice. With passage of a new contract that specifically endorses community schools, the West Contra Costa Unified School District is poised to become a model for the strategy. United Teachers of Richmond considered community schools a must in the…
Read MoreTeachers needed: Contra Costa schools use recruiting events to fill widespread vacancies
Prospective teachers are interviewing on the spot and some are getting offers at winter and spring job fairs across Contra Costa County. Last month, dozens of candidates met recruiters at Alhambra High School in Martinez, where many districts competed for prospective employees amid a national teacher shortage. And from 9 a.m. to noon this Saturday,…
Read MoreUPDATE: WCCUSD teachers vote for tentative contract
A potential strike and district-wide shutdown has likely been avoided after West Contra Costa Unified School District and the United Teachers of Richmond reached a tentative three-year contract agreement Friday, the union said in a newsletter Monday. On Friday, 73% of the 1,182 members casting ballots voted to ratify the deal. Since negotiations began a…
Read MoreWCCUSD teachers union prepares for next step after two-week impasse over salaries
More than two weeks after the West Contra Costa Unified School District declared an impasse with United Teachers of Richmond, many educators are feeling scared and uncertain about the future of their jobs. Since the negotiation process began in February, UTR’s focus has been on ensuring all students have high quality, certificated educators; providing emotionally…
Read More‘Where’s my teacher?’ Students and parents want to know why WCCUSD hasn’t filled dozens of teacher vacancies
Parents protested and teachers rallied against West Contra Costa Unified School District on Wednesday, expressing frustrations with how the teacher shortage is being handled and communicated to the community. A few dozen parents, kids and teachers gathered at Memorial Park in Richmond, directly across the street from the WCCUSD headquarters, to demand answers after a…
Read More