Just another benefit of an out-of-touch behemoth school district… “West Contra Costa schools have some of the worst conditions of any in the county, according to a report released this week by the county Office of Education, which sent inspectors for surprise and scheduled visits in September and October.“

Election stories… – EBMUD… “A controversial water rationing plan adopted this summer by the East Bay’s largest water district brought three challengers who were trying to oust long-time members of the East Bay Municipal Utility District board of directors but none was successful. [...] Lesa McIntosh, 52, a Richmond lawyer, was challenged by Charles Smith, [...]

Other than the City Council race… Measure A — John Swett Bond — passes with 74.4% (needed 55%); Measure D — WCCUSD Parcel Tax — passes with 79.2% (needed 2/3); Measure WW — East Bay Regional Parks Bond — passes with 71.2% (needed 2/3); EBMUD Director — Lesa McIntosh with 52.9%; WCCUSD Board — Antonio [...]

- On Measure WW… “[East Bay Regional Park District] officials, conservationists and an influential business group disagreed, saying the East Bay needs more recreation land for a growing population to hike, jog, picnic, walk dogs, ride mountain bicycles, and commune with nature.” – Progress in Rodeo… “A developer group wants to resuscitate the long-dormant Rodeo [...]

- “Hercules resident Tom Lynden, who argued against [Measure D] in the voters information pamphlet, said he’s concerned that the school district isn’t handling taxpayers’ money properly, and because of that he is voting no. Some schools in need of seismic upgrades have been ignored by board members overseeing the district’s school reconstruction program — [...]

One of the arguments against Hercules splitting from the gargantuan West Contra Costa Unified School District was that the teachers union was against it for they would be unable to ensure the same salaries and benefits for its members. However, with the state budget crisis making it harder than ever for unions and districts to [...]

The WCCUSD school board candidates discuss their priorities amidst a fiscal crisis… West Contra Costa board candidates focus on finances By Kimberly S. Wetzel The four candidates vying for two seats on the West Contra Costa school board differ somewhat on the issues, but largely agree that they must address growing fiscal challenges for the [...]

WCCUSD is looking for votes… Amid school parcel tax push, all quiet on West Contra Costa front By Kimberly S. Wetzel For the past few months, West Contra Costa school district meetings have been shorter than normal and devoid of controversial subjects. There is none of the usual public squabbling between district and union officials [...]

A wise reader chimes in on the school seismic retrofit article posted yesterday… I believe the article by Suzanne Bohan about State funding to have seismic retrofit for schools is not the complete story of why our schools in WCCUSD have not been fixed. Although I do hope the district is successful in getting the [...]

This actually goes without saying… Bay Area schools need quake-proofing By Suzanne Bohan Bill Savidge, engineering officer for the West Contra Costa Unified School District, recently appraised a structurally unsound, circa-1957 three-story school in the Richmond hills that he said is 1,000 yards from the dangerous Hayward fault. Adams Middle School, with 900 students, is [...]

Candidates are vying for the two open seats on the WCCUSD board and the three open seats on the John Swett board this election… West County school board forums scheduled By Kimberly S. Wetzel Those interested in getting to know the candidates for the West Contra Costa and John Swett school boards can do so [...]

Another cramped agenda is set for Tuesday’s City Council meeting — 7pm at City Hall — despite five public hearings recommended to be continued at a later date by staff. The evening starts with WCCUSD delivering a presentation on Measure D, a parcel tax ballot measure that will purportedly shore up the school district’s funding [...]

A few news stories this Sunday mentions or deals with Hercules… – “In Hercules in 2004, some council candidates were accused of not obeying the city’s [political campaign] sign law, which establishes a handful of locations on public property where each candidate can put up one sign.” – “Other districts, such as West Contra Costa [...]

It is my personal opinion that the WCCUSD is too large a school district to cater to the students of Hercules. That being said, it is good to read that improvements have been made, but there is still a lot more to accomplish… First the good news: West Contra Costa students continue to make steady [...]

I think you can look at this one of two ways — (1) that this is the reality of modern campaigning, something we simply have to deal with, or (2) that the small City of Hercules will never be able to compete with the big hired guns of the WCCUSD. The second is admittedly a [...]

The neglect (my word) continues… “The district [WCCUSD] has other rebuild projects on the horizon, including Dover Elementary in San Pablo; De Anza High and King, Ford and Nystrom elementaries in Richmond; Portola Middle School in El Cerrito; and Ohlone Elementary in Hercules.” On the horizon. My guess is the schools in Richmond will be [...]

This doesn’t make any sense to me, and is a clear sign — in my opinion — that the district has no plans to change. Anyone have any opinions on John Swett? County rejects district election proposal By Kimberly S. Wetzel Backers of a petition to elect West Contra Costa Unified School District board members [...]

An opinion column in the Contra Costa Times this morning starts, “In 2007, Hercules High School met federal academic performance standards but failed to meet state requirements.”

The fix is in… the powerful retain their power. Does anyone else feel like jumping ship to John Swett? County rejects bid to have WCCUSD board members elected by district rather than at-large By Kimberly S. Wetzel A proposal to have West Contra Costa Unified School District board members elected by district rather than at-large [...]

There is an open meeting discussing the fate of how the West Contra Costa Unified School District board will be made-up… “The Contra Costa County Office of Education, sitting as the county Commission on School District Organization, will tackle the issue at a meeting today in Richmond and ultimately determine whether the idea should go [...]

A community group of residents are working to change the way board members of the West Contra Costa County Unified School District (WCCUSD) are elected. The group would like to make it that the board members must reside within a certain geographical area so that they can represent a certain number of schools within that [...]

I am going to try to post a series of entries on the local Hercules schools and their latest test scores and other pertinent statistical information. I will include both the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) schools and the John Swett Unified School District schools, although the movement to have the Hercules schools [...]

“Only 37 percent of Hercules voters and 42 percent of Pinole residents said yes to Measure G,” the West Contra Costa County Unified School District’s $14 million parcel tax measure. A meeting to discuss what’s next is tonight.

West Contra Costa County School District’s Measure G parcel tax failed to pass (with only 54% approving of the measure), meaning WCCUSD schools will be looking to cut programs. According to Caltrans, “a new three-mile section of High Occupancy Vehicle lane will open on westbound I-80 — between Cummings Skyway and State Route 4 — [...]