Theresa Harrington
Theresa covers Oakland Unified and West Contra Costa Unified, among other topics. She came to EdSource from the Contra Costa Times/Bay Area News Group, where she covered regional, statewide and national education issues. She has been recognized with multiple awards for her education reporting by the California Newspaper Publishers Association, the San Francisco Peninsula Press Club and the California Teachers Association among others. She began her career as a producer managing children’s and other educational programming and print outreach for KQED. Theresa is an alumna of San Francisco State University where she received a B.A. degree in broadcast communications.
All articles by Theresa Harrington
California county superintendents share concerns about school closures with governor
State gets federal waiver allowing schools to continue providing meals if they close due to coronavirus.
Theresa Harrington
March 11, 2020
Oakland school board votes $18.8 million in cuts, up to 100 layoffs; hears pleas to cut police force
The board voted to lay off about 100 workers to close its 2020-21 budget deficit, may consider eliminating its police force in the future.
Theresa Harrington
March 6, 2020
West Contra Costa Unified school board votes to lay off up to 300 workers in June
Teachers to receive layoff notices next week, but district hopes to rescind many by negotiating other cost-cutting solutions with unions.
Theresa Harrington
February 27, 2020
San Francisco Bay Area district could lay off 250 teachers
West Contra Costa Unified is eyeing to cut $32 million from next year's budget including teaching jobs. Layoff notices will go out by March 15.
Theresa Harrington
February 6, 2020
Oakland Unified superintendent recommends laying off more than 68 staffers to close budget gap
The school board has agreed it must cut about $21.5 million from next year's budget but is now getting proposals on where to make those cuts
Theresa Harrington
February 4, 2020
Closing a middle school and converting others to K-8 stirs opposition
The school board and others in West Contra Costa Unified did not approve a plan to convert six elementary schools into K-8 schools next year.
Theresa Harrington
January 17, 2020
San Francisco Bay Area parents declare state of emergency over district’s failure to educate black children
Parents want the district to allocate $7.2 million to improve services for the district’s 5,000 African-American students.
Theresa Harrington
January 15, 2020
San Francisco Bay Area district’s budget cuts may hurt neediest students, advocates fear
West Contra Costa school board on Wednesday to begin reviewing suggestions for nearly $50 million in cuts over two years to balance budget.
Theresa Harrington
January 14, 2020
Questions swirl about origins of $40 million deficit
Cutting nearly $40 million in West Contra Costa Unified triggers layoff worries, stirs distrust and puts superintendent’s job in jeopardy.
Theresa Harrington
January 10, 2020
Protesters file excessive force claim against Oakland Unified
Nine district parents and teachers say police injured them during an Oct. 23 board meeting where they were protesting school closures.
Theresa Harrington
November 26, 2019
East Bay board agrees to ask taxpayers to vote in March to approve $575 million bond measure
The district measure will appear on the March ballot with a statewide construction bond measure that could provide matching funds to many districts.
Theresa Harrington
November 22, 2019
Protesters collecting signatures to oust Oakland board member who backed school closing
Activists against school closures are targeting for recall Oakland Unified school board member Jody London, who voted in favor of school closures.
Theresa Harrington
November 22, 2019
Supporters urge board to keep East Bay superintendent despite budget crisis
West Contra Costa Unified school board agrees to keep superintendent at the helm while searching for ways to bridge $48 million budget gap.
Theresa Harrington
November 19, 2019
East Bay board may consider firing superintendent amid fiscal crisis
A $48 million budget deficit is threatening the job of Superintendent Matthew Duffy. A special school board meeting on Friday is expected to focus on possible termination of his contract.
Theresa Harrington
November 15, 2019
Oakland school board moves meeting to closed room after protester disruptions
The Oakland Unified school board closed its meeting to the public a second time after protesters turned out in force.