Big money in the school board race for a district that has arguably abandoned Hercules’ students… “Financial disclosure forms filed with the Contra Costa County Elections Division, covering the period up to Oct. 16, showed incumbent Charles Ramsey led the group of six candidates with $101,650 in cash contributions this year. Ramsey’s contributors included several [...]
The agenda for tonight’s City Council meeting — 7pm at City Hall — is light, a further sign of the City Manager’s prolonged absence of late. The Council will continue its evaluation of the City Manager’s performance in closed session prior to the meeting. The City will increase the wastewater treatment budget by $250k to [...]
The West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) — or, perhaps more accurately, the Richmond School District — needs new leadership. The behemoth school district is broken, broke, and fails to provide the quality education Herculeans deserve and pay for. One newcomer in this year’s election is Jason Freeman (the three incumbents are running for [...]
A long-time board member had an interesting take… “Board member Charles Ramsey maintained that both the 5- and 7.2-cent amounts are within the margin of error for getting a two-thirds vote, and either could be a close call. ‘Since I could lose either one, I have to go for 7.2 cents,’ Ramsey said, adding that [...]
Measure D — the WCCUSD bond measure that would pay for school repair and construction (including a science lab at Hercules Middle/High) — passed last night with 62 percent of the vote (619 of 628 precincts reporting; 55 percent was needed). The property tax amounts to approximately “$48 per $100,000 of assessed valuation.” It is [...]
This post should have been published last night but damned it be the day Comcast has a “general service outage.” Today is Primary Day, the second best day of the year. The following offices and measures will be decided today, maybe. Federal Senator and Representative (District 7). State State Assembly (District 11), Governor, Lieutenant Governor, [...]
At Monday’s meeting — 7pm at City Hall — the Planning Commission will hear a presentation on the decommissioning of the former Pacific Refinery Marine Terminal facilities, which consists of “an offshore concrete structure, supported by concrete piles located at the edge of the deep water channel in southeastern San Pablo Bay.” Pacific Refinery’s land [...]
The WCCUSD associate superintendent says that remaining funds from a previous bond measure includes money to build Ohlone Elementary… “West Contra Costa district administrators estimate their $380 million bond Measure D could cost property owners up to $48 per $100,000 of assessed valuation for bonds to be paid off over 30 years. This is in [...]
The measure would include funds for “science facilities at Hercules Middle/High School” but it would not specifically address the need to rebuild Ohlone Elementary… “West Contra Costa voters will decide in June whether to award the school district another $380 million in bonds for school rebuilding and repairs. The school board this week unanimously approved [...]
Well-funded public schools are the best tool to teach children and young adults. I know this, so it is hard to argue with the merits behind supporting another bond measure for the schools. (I have never not voted for a school bond or tax measure.) However, it does no good to continue bailing out a [...]
The City will pay for an assistant principal at the Middle/High school for the current school year ($101k), as well as pay for a music teacher to rotate through all three elementary schools each week ($42.6k), as a result of the current financial woes of the school district (WCCUSD) and the State. The City Council [...]
The following post was written by Karen VanWinkle.* On Thursday, August 20th, I will vote to strike. A not-so-funny thing happened during my summer vacation. To save money during the recession, our cash strapped school district quietly made it harder for English Language Learners, low socio-economic students and teachers in the WCCUSD to succeed. That’s [...]
The “best” and “final” offers are very seldom concurrent… “A bargaining dispute between the West Contra Costa school district and teachers could culminate in a strike in the fall if the school board decides to impose its ‘last, best and final offer,’ a union official said Monday. The document calls for hard district caps on [...]
This guest post was written by Susan Keeffe.* As a long time resident of Hercules, a former West Contra Costa USD student, parent, teacher and administrator, I have been following the recent events regarding educational finances and how it is affecting us locally with increasing concern. How did we reach a point where our teachers [...]
A quick note on the editorial direction of my comments on education, and in particular, the City’s stressful relationship with WCCUSD, comments that have been largely consistent on this blog. I am not trying to prove a positive, that is, that teachers would be necessarily better-off in a separate Hercules school district (or a combined [...]
It is a good thing the teachers union resisted an independent Hercules school district a few years back; that would have only resulted in a disaster for them…* “A West Contra Costa teachers strike is likely now that the union and school district have exhausted all methods of bargaining, the union president said Friday. [...] [...]
A potential parcel tax… “The [WCCUSD] school board this week approved a $278.7 million spending plan for the 2009-10 school year. It also appointed a committee, including board members Madeline Kronenberg and Antonio Medrano, to explore putting another parcel tax measure before voters, possibly in 2010. [...] Rising health care and retiree benefit costs and [...]
Not good… “Heated contract negotiations between the West Contra Costa school district and its teachers union could culminate in a strike, union officials said. The union’s contract with the district expired in June 2008, and what started as a general dispute over health care benefits and class sizes last year is turning into a nasty [...]
Budget cuts means bigger class sizes… “As a way to help close the school district’s budget gap, the board voted 3-2 this week to increase kindergarten class sizes from 20 to 24 children and third-grade sizes from 20 to 28. The move — subject to bargaining with the teachers union — will save the district [...]
Very quietly, the agenda for Tuesday evening’s City Council meeting — 7pm at City Hall — racked up a large sum, all of which will be likely passed (unanimously) in the consent calendar, prefaced by Councilmember Kris Valstad stating that all spending measures have been approved by the finance subcommittee (which is made-up of Valstad [...]
- I’m bound to become a broken record on this (maybe in a good way), but how has the argument that a separate Hercules school district would be devastating for district teachers panned out? “Dozens of West Contra Costa County school teachers staged a ‘work to rule’ day at several campuses Thursday to protest the [...]
The critical re-build — it is not really a “rebuild” since the school was never actually built — of Ohlone Elementary School has been delayed before… School rebuilds facing obstacles in West County By Kimberly S. Wetzel Unless the West Contra Costa school district receives a waiver from the state, declining property values could put [...]
There is a lot one could say about this decision, including the thought that it is a heap of bullshit… County committee denies Hercules secession petition Acting in the capacity as the County Committee on School Organization, the Contra Costa County Board of Education Sept. 14 disapproved a petition to split off schools in Hercules [...]
Despite support from County Supervisor Gayle Uilkema and a committee-commissioned report finding that secession met six of nine state requirements (a report that was biased against the cause from the outset), the Contra Costa County Board of Education (see note following article below) would ultimately favor the political stronghold of Richmond over the sovereignty of [...]
The Hercules movement to secede was hindered by the Contra Costa County Office of Education (who would again play a role three years later shutting down an effort to give Hercules a voice in the district)… Hercules Secession Could Hurt Schools July 16, 2005 The fight to wrest Hercules schools from the West Contra Costa [...]
Three years following a failed advisory initiative, residents filed a petition to secede from WCCUSD… Hercules wants new school district Shrinking finances prompted petition Chip Johnson Friday, November 5, 2004 For disenchanted John Kerry supporters, the outcome of this week’s presidential election means four more years of the same old stuff. But for some residents [...]
An advisory initiative (Measure G) was placed on the ballot by the Hercules City Council and failed by 420 votes (out of 3,210 votes cast; see note following article below) on March 6, 2001… Ballot Initiative to Decide Future of Hercules Schools Merger, independence are among possibilities Pia Sarkar, Chronicle Staff Writer Friday, March 2, [...]
I am not sure what this means for the Hercules schools in particular… “More than 100 of the [pink slip] notices will go to elementary school teachers as the district attempts to increase the number of students per classroom to save money. Also to be targeted are 30 middle and high school teachers and 53 [...]
This is the earliest news report referring to a secession from WCCUSD (from 2000, a few months after John Swett dropped its annex plans) that is freely available online…* Hercules Residents Push Drive for School Secession Elizabeth Bell, Chronicle Staff Writer Saturday, October 21, 2000 (10-21) 04:00 PST HERCULES — A movement by Hercules residents [...]
The John Swett Unified School District once had ideas for annexing Hercules (from 2000)… John Swett Schools Drop Plans to Annex Parts of Hercules Other possible solutions will be tried to make up for enrollment decline Elizabeth Bell, Chronicle Staff Writer Friday, June 9, 2000 (06-09) 04:00 PST HERCULES — The John Swett Unified School [...]
No matter the development planned along the Waterfront, or in the New Town Center corridor, or the villas built on what will become Hilltown; despite the planned growth of robust commercial activity throughout Hercules, the future success of the City is inherently tied to the condition, appeal and appearance of the school district that serves [...]
Alright, I’ll ask the question… How much worse-off could an independent Hercules school district (funded by City residents’ taxes) be when compared to the giant-sized (and under-funded) WCCUSD? And while you discuss that amongst yourselves… “The [West Contra Costa Unified School District] — which already voted to shut three schools and initiated hiring and expenditure [...]
There were no cameras at last night’s community meeting hosted by ABC7. A news producer and reporter were interested in hearing stories that were impacting the community, stories that fell under the radar, and the news-team expressed interest in pursuing a few of the stories, either immediately or at some point in the future. There [...]
A soils investigation is underway as part of an environmental assessment of the potential school site at the corner of Sycamore Avenue and Willet Street. It should be noted that this is very preliminary, and is only a first-step in a long process of the school’s eventual construction. According to a City press release, “in [...]
- Another week, another mention of the failed skate park in Hercules… “Richmond is attempting what neighboring cities are struggling to do: build a skate park that draws skateboarders but keeps graffiti, loitering and criminal activity at bay. [...] In 2002, Hercules converted a tennis court in Woodfield Park into a skateboarding facility. Officials closed [...]
Some catch-up from the past week or so – – Safety (not) first… “A decision on whether to move students out of two seismically unsafe West Contra Costa schools likely will be delayed until after the school board determines which campuses to close to cope with a multimillion-dollar budget gap.” – Closures process muddied… “The [...]
Sometimes the key to success — or even mediocrity — is a bailout of some kind. And the kids deserve it; do it for the kids… A new drive to get millions in WCCUSD debt reduced or forgiven By Kimberly S. Wetzel Hoping to ease a budget crunch that likely will force as many as [...]
A month-or-so off results in a beefy agenda for tomorrow evening’s City Council meeting — 7pm at City Hall — including… $18k for the Chamber of Commerce to “promote economic development activities;” Submit an application for grant funds for Chelsea Wetlands restoration; Make appointments to the WCCUSD school closures committee — Charleen Raines and Page [...]
- “Richmond city leaders are hunting for $1.5 million a year over the next two years to help bail out the West Contra Costa school district from its financial hole and keep Richmond schools from closing. [...] With Richmond willing to pitch in, school district officials will ask the other cities in its jurisdiction — [...]
WCCUSD will host a school closures meeting tomorrow evening from 6:30 to 9 pm at Hercules High School in either the gym or the cafeteria (depending on the source). In an apparent attempt to make the school closures process as convoluted as possible, WCCUSD has created High School Attendance Area committees (or HSAA). Each committee [...]
School matters — one good, and one very bad… – “Among the creative projects selected this year [for grants provided by the West Contra Costa Public Education Fund] are an insect discovery workshop for kindergartners at Fairmont Elementary in El Cerrito and a garden project at Hercules Middle/High School in which special education students learn [...]
No Hercules schools made the list, which is as follows… Adams Middle School, Richmond Castro Elementary, El Cerrito Collins Elementary, Pinole Coronado Elementary, Richmond El Sobrante Elementary, El Sobrante Highland Elementary, Richmond Kennedy High School, Richmond Lake Elementary, San Pablo Olinda Elementary, El Sobrante Portola Middle School, El Cerrito Shannon Elementary, Pinole Stege Elementary, Richmond [...]
It is rumored that no Hercules schools will make the list… West County school district to release list of potential schools to be targeted for closure By Kimberly S. Wetzel Which West Contra Costa schools might be targeted for closure will be discussed by school district staff members at a community meeting Thursday. District leaders [...]
No schools in Hercules are reportedly slated for closure… West County school district to discuss school closures By Kimberly S. Wetzel Facing a budget deficit that makes school closures inevitable, West Contra Costa school board members today will take the first step by approving criteria to determine which campuses to target. District leaders said they [...]
The WCCUSD board meets tomorrow — 6:30pm at DeJean Middle — and will vote to approve the school closures criteria and process. It will also vote to increase developer fees (also known as the millions of dollars Herculeans paid when they bought their new homes in the Waterfront, yet no plans for a new elementary [...]
- Teachers upset with WCCUSD… “The United Teachers of Richmond, whose three-year contract expired in June, met with [WCCUSD] leaders late last week to discuss terms of a new agreement and the district’s plans to reduce personnel costs amid the state budget crisis. Union President Pixie Hayward Schickele said she was ‘stunned’ at the long [...]
- “The first Hercules Neighborhood Clean-up earlier this month was such a success that officials say they want to hold a similar event soon in another neighborhood.” – “Other projects high on the list for federal funds are the completion of the Highway 4 bypass, Interstate 580 carpool lanes and upgrades to the I-80 corridor. [...]
- Transit projects funding… “In Contra Costa and Alameda counties, officials point to a handful of projects that could — with a quick cash boost — break ground in a few months or a year. [...] Eligible transit projects include the Richmond BART parking garage and the Hercules intermodal station.” – And a new WCCUSD [...]
From last night’s WCCUSD board meeting… “Please don’t close schools. That was one of many messages conveyed to the West Contra Costa school district board Wednesday night during an animated meeting on how the district should go about shuttering campuses to save money.“
I do not know if any Hercules schools are on the chopping block, but that does not appear to be the case (and it is mildly upsetting that this article was published only an hour before the school board discusses the issue at their meeting tonight)… West County school district to discuss closing schools By [...]