This story was updated to provide additional details about how to get information about city support for families during the WCCUSD strike.
The Richmond City Council on Tuesday approved an emergency resolution to allocate $50,000 to support families affected by the impending West Contra Costa Unified School District strike.
The council, with District 1 council member Jamelia Brown absent, voted unanimously to direct City Manager Shasa Curl to possibly expand community center hours, add more recreation programming and “collaborate with community partners.”
Mayor Eduardo Martinez brought the proposal at the beginning of the meeting, invoking a Brown Act provision in California’s Government Code that allows a council to put an item on the agenda if there is an urgent issue occurring after the agenda was posted.
City WCCUSD strike program info
Visit the city’s website for details about WCCUSD strike support services for families.
Options include: Enrolling in a city recreation program (supervised play, homework support, arts/crafts/games); attending a library program; day care at one of five community centers (spaces are limited).
Note: Priority will be given to Richmond families most in need. Also, here’s a list of other community nonprofits offering expanded services during the strike.
“The purpose of the proposed item is for the city to identify short-term ways to support Richmond children,” Martinez said. “Delaying this action would limit our ability to respond in a timely and responsible way.”
Martinez, a former Richmond educator, said he brought the item forward alongside District 6 council member Claudia Jimenez because “any shift to school routines has a real impact on our families.”
“As a former West Contra Costa Unified School District teacher and former UTR member I understand how central our schools are to daily stability,” Martinez said. “Labor negotiations are a part of this process and I respect that. Our focus here is simply to make sure Richmond students and families have the support they need during this period.”
Martinez added that city staff is already looking at ways to partner with community nonprofits to provide immediate support to families.
United Teachers of Richmond President Francisco Ortiz addressed the council prior to the vote, thanking members on behalf of UTR for supporting students. He also mentioned that the Teamsters rejected a tentative agreement and that the two unions would be picketing on Thursday.
“We have a vacancy crisis here in west Contra Costa. Over 2,000 students are without a teacher and we have lost over 1500 educators in the last five years,” he said. “We remain committed to doing whatever it takes to stabilize our schools and alleviate the staffing crisis that our students feel on a daily basis.”
Curl said that staff had been aware of the impending strike and were working on ways that the city could support local affected Richmond families.
Curl told the council that the city had some already existing contracts with local nonprofits that could be amended to include the $50,000 the council was allocating and that city staff would return later this month to present it to the council.
“We do need to be cognisant and mindful of staff capacity but we will certainly do the best we can,” Curl said.
Vice Mayor and District 2 council member Cesar Zepeda asked if there was any way to begin processing the potential aid sooner than the next council meeting.
“Is there a way to communicate to the community that all of our community centers will be open in the morning for people to drop off their kids starting Thursday?” Zepeda said.
Curl said that the city first has to prepare staff for any overtime work
Curl added that the city’s Recreation Department would be handling community outreach with the school community but cautioned, however, that the city would need to prioritize serving Richmond families and those who are already enrolled in city programs.
“Staff will communicate and ensure that, based on our capacity, that the word is spread,” she said, citing the district’s 25,000-student population. “We certainly cannot replace the breadth of the services provided by the school district but we are happy to work in collaboration to support our community as much as possible.”
Good morning I’m a as mom. In lake elementary. Is very sad. That. Teacher.s. Will be. Out their classrooms. On strike. For. Wanting. Better for our students bplease is enough there is not enough teacher. In lake. Most of teachers as lready have more students in each. Classroom than. Is suppose to need by more teachers. More staff please. Our kids. Need. To be. Welll educated. Thank you.
Agreed!