East Bay

February 12, 2019

Oakland school board delays budget cuts amid complaints of lack of details

For months the district warned it needed to cut $30 million from its 2019-20 budget. When a plan to cut a lower amount came before them, the board put off a vote amid complaints that members didn't know how the cuts would impact students and schools. About 100 staffers, most from the central office, are slated to lose their jobs.

Theresa Harrington

February 12, 2019

Acclaimed restorative justice program on the chopping block in Oakland Unified

Students and advocates are loudly protesting a plan to significantly cut staff from the popular initiative, which emphasizes alternatives to punitive discipline approaches like suspension and expulsion.

David Washburn

February 5, 2019

Oakland teachers vote overwhelmingly to authorize a strike and win city council support

Oakland teachers voted overwhelmingly to support a strike if their union can't negotiate a new contract. They rallied Tuesday outside Oakland city hall and won support from the city council which has no authority to settle the contract dispute with the Oakland Unified School District. A strike can not legally occur until after Feb. 15 when a neutral fact-finding report is expected to be issued.

Theresa Harrington

January 30, 2019

California schools help unaccompanied immigrant students combat trauma, language barriers

Unaccompanied immigrant students face a daunting set of obstacles to finish high school. Many students have survived severe trauma in their home countries or missed years of school.

Zaidee Stavely

January 29, 2019

Oakland school board votes to close first of up to two dozen schools amid opposition

The Oakland school board voted Monday to close the first of up to 24 schools in the next five years due to budget constraints and low enrollment.

Theresa Harrington

January 29, 2019

Bay Area district and charter schools strut their stuff side by side in effort to attract students

West Contra Costa Unified schools and charter schools participate together in first-ever education fair to help educate parents about their options.

Theresa Harrington

January 24, 2019

Planned school closures in Oakland Unified have parents, teachers and community members on edge

Oakland Unified faces a budget deficit, in part because students are choosing charter and private schools. The district enrolls only 58 percent of the nearly 63,000 school-age children who live in Oakland.

Theresa Harrington

January 13, 2019

Oakland Unified looks to higher teacher pay to improve student learning as teachers threaten to strike

Teachers' union has threatened to strike after rejecting the district's offer of a 5 percent salary increase. Both sides must first participate in a fact-finding with a three-member independent panel.

Theresa Harrington

December 20, 2018

Teachers in Oakland gearing up for possible strike

Oakland Unified teachers union president says educators are “fed up” with low salaries and poor working conditions.

Theresa Harrington

December 4, 2018

Latinas for the first time make up majority of Bay Area school board

The West Contra Costa Unified School Board for the first time in its history has a Latina majority who will now join in the tough task of making $12 million in budget cuts to help pay for salary increases for teachers and other employees in a region with soaring housing costs.

Theresa Harrington

November 18, 2018

As new school board members go, Oakland Unified's Gary Yee brings unusual depth of experience

Gary Yee, a former interim superintendent, principal, teacher and board member, was coaxed out of retirement to run for the board. He says he wants to be seen as a "village elder" on education issues.