West Contra Costa schools facing major cuts as district pares budget to pay teacher raises

WITH THE RECENT settling of contract negotiations with its teachers union, West Contra Costa Unified is expecting to have to slash millions from its budget in coming years to afford raises which include 7 percent for teachers this year and 7.5 percent next year.

The district’s school board, at its March 1 meeting, approved a “fiscal solvency plan” that would cut $19.8 million from the 2024-25 budget by eliminating 131 full-time positions and reducing other spending. Approving the plan was a requirement by the Contra Costa County Office of Education in order for the district to offer the raises in the contract settlement with United Teachers of Richmond, but the cuts and layoffs won’t actually occur until the board approves them when the 2024-25 budget is prepared next year.