East Bay

June 13, 2019

Bay Area school slated for 'redesign' gets new operating agreement

A commitment to save a California school includes a groundbreaking agreement between the teachers' union and school district.

Theresa Harrington

June 7, 2019

Charter schools cost East Bay district nearly $1,000 per student, report asserts

Charter school association says report, commissioned by the West Contra Costa Unified School District, is “pure propaganda.”

Theresa Harrington

May 21, 2019

Oakland Unified's budget woes now include loss of two fiscal officers

District is working with fiscal experts from the Alameda County Office of Education as it seeks an interim CFO to help stabilize financial practices.

Theresa Harrington

May 14, 2019

Putting a focus on Bay Area district: superintendent and union president team up

West Contra Costa Unified’s superintendent and teachers’ union president work together on videos to attract families to district schools.

Theresa Harrington

May 8, 2019

Oakland Unified offers critical view of charter schools to state task force

Oakland report on charter schools provides one of the most detailed portraits of their impact on a large urban district.

Louis Freedberg And Theresa Harrington

April 24, 2019

Oakland Unified may need $2 million more in budget cuts to give other employees same raise as teachers

Alameda County Office of Education analysis of district’s budget reveals shortfall if all unions get the same level salary increase as teachers.

Theresa Harrington

April 23, 2019

Restorative justice among programs partially saved by Oakland City Council

Oakland Unified to receive $1.2 million from city to help reinstate cuts to Restorative Justice and Foster Youth programs, supplement library funding.

Theresa Harrington

April 4, 2019

Oakland Unified gets unprecedented help with fiscal practices

Alameda County Office of Education team steps in to train district staff and help implement fiscal stability procedures as chief business officer position is eliminated.

Theresa Harrington

March 25, 2019

California school district among latest to change board elections to better reflect diversity of community

West Contra Costa Unified is one of the latest California school districts to agree to switch from at-large to by-district elections in 2020. The goal is to have the board reflect the community's diversity.

Theresa Harrington

March 4, 2019

Oakland school board cuts $20.2 million from budget, including 100 jobs

Board member Jody London said the district could not give teachers the raises it agreed to in settling the recent strike without making the cuts.

Theresa Harrington

March 3, 2019

After seven-day strike, Oakland teachers approve new contract

The district and teachers' union reach a four-year agreement that would give teachers an 11 percent raise, plus a 3 percent bonus.

By Theresa Harrington

February 28, 2019

Bay Area district joins others in calling for moratorium on charter school expansions

School boards in West Contra Costa Unified, Los Angeles Unified and Oakland Unified have all expressed concerns about the growth of charter schools.

Theresa Harrington

February 27, 2019

Oakland Unified discloses improved contract offer after protesters shut down board meeting

District increased salary hike offer, but teachers' union and supporters are holding out. Demands include higher raises, smaller classes and student resources.

Theresa Harrington

February 26, 2019

Teachers' strike is costing Oakland school district about $1 million a day

With a high percentage of students and teachers honoring picket line, Oakland Unified is losing state funds, partially offset by savings in not having to pay striking teachers’ salaries.

Louis Freedberg And Theresa Harrington

February 25, 2019

Tony Thurmond, state schools chief, joins Oakland teacher negotiations at union's request

Weekend talks broke off after union held fast to its demands. The district canceled a Monday night board meeting to focus on negotiations.

Theresa Harrington