Richmond school supporters ask: Why is fixing one of WCCUSD’s oldest schools, with the district’s highest percentage of Black students, not a higher priority?
Author Archives: Natalie Hanson
Natalie Hanson is a freelance journalist who covers city government and multiple beats for local papers.
What I cover: I write about city development and planning, transportation and infrastructure, schools and community and general news in Richmond.
My background: I've covered local and national political and legal news in the Bay Area at Courthouse News and am a contributing editor and writer for the nonprofit ChicoSol News. I've also written about city government and multiple beats for local papers including the Marin Independent Journal, Chico Enterprise-Record and San Jose Spotlight, and I host my own monthly radio news program in Chico at KZFR. I'm also an occasional mentor/digital editor for NPR's NextGen Radio program.
Posted inSchools
Limited funds mean some aging WCCUSD schools wait years for makeovers
While Richmond and Kennedy high schools each get $280-million renovations, one of WCCUSD’s oldest schools was treated unfairly, supporters say.
Posted inCommunity
Mass of bicyclists enjoy Richmond bridge ride but lane access remains at risk
Bay commission expected to meet in January to decide whether to limit bicycle, pedestrian access to weekends.
Posted inSchools
WCCUSD board election: Otheree Christian concedes seat to Guadalupe Enllana
Updated election returns show Enllana increased lead slightly Nov. 22 with 54.4% of the votes cast.
Posted inSchools
Contra Costa County Board of Ed: Caro concedes race to Daniel Heiss in Area 1
Unofficial results released Nov. 22 show Daniel Heiss maintaining his lead with 59.2% of the votes cast.
Posted inCommunity
Richmond voters show up to polls with pride, faith in democratic process
While nerves may be on edge due to close presidential race, Richmond voters were upbeat.
Posted inSchools
‘Bring it on,’ says WCCUSD school board candidate; Challenger says she’s parent-focused
League of Women Voters, WCCUSD host Monday night candidates forum for school board election.
Posted inSchools
Judge won’t make WCCUSD fix staffing, building issues
Judge Terri Mockler says district is remodeling Stege Elementary so a repair order would be moot. She also said the shortage of credentialed teachers is ‘chronic,’ and those that are qualified, ‘don’t want to teach in Richmond.’
Posted inSchools
Candidates for school races clash over budget, staffing of Richmond’s schools
WCCUSD and County Education Board candidates made their cases at a recent election forum.
Posted inSchools
WCCUSD appoints Kim Moses as interim superintendent
Kim Moses, West Contra Costa Unified School District’s associate superintendent of business services, will take over in December from Superintendent Chris Hurst, who announced his resignation Monday.
Posted inSchools
WCCUSD superintendent announces retirement
West Contra Costa Unified School District Superintendent Chris Hurst is leaving the district in December, following a flurry of issues including a school closure and a civil rights lawsuit.
Posted inSchools
Teachers, parents frustrated at ‘unsustainable’ staff shortages at local schools
At the WCCUSD board meeting this week: Concerns about staff shortages in schools and a 2023-24 budget that showed higher than expected revenue.
Posted inSchools
Meet the Richmond WCCUSD school board candidates
The new board member for Area 3, a swath of central Richmond, will be Cinthia Hernandez. She’ll win by default because no one else filed to run for the seat.
Posted inCity
Richmonders want more parks. City struggles to maintain the 50 it has.
While regional parks are a plus, they don’t supplant need for well-maintained, easily accessible neighborhood green spaces, Richmond residents say.
Posted inSchools
WCCUSD school board balances budget using reserves
West Contra Costa Unified School District has an estimated $23M deficit over the next two years.
Posted inCity
Residents rush to save belongings as city bulldozes longtime homeless camp
Nearly 30 people forced to leave Greenway camp near Target and I-80.
Posted inCity
Parents still at odds with school district over services for vulnerable students
Local accountability plan was revised, but parents want more details about how $64.8M budget will be spent.
Posted inSchools
Nervous, surprised, excited: Stege Elementary students moved to DeJean
Richmond elementary students must now attend a nearby middle school after their school was closed due to asbestos and for other repairs.
Posted inCity
Richmond wins $14.5M state grant to turn motel into housing for the homeless
But need outweighs funds, especially given that Bay Area affordable housing bond was dropped from ballot.
Posted inSchools
Stege parents: Why was school operating with such serious building deficiencies?
As frustrated parents shout questions, WCCUSD superintendent says school was third on renovation list until asbestos discovery forced closure.
