Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1544915
employed scores of fully credentialed administrators and some teachers in non-classroom assignments and never pursued other available certification options, including last-resort state waivers. "California law mandates the District 's duty to fill ever y classroom with a permanent and qualified teacher for the school year," the cour t wrote in its judgment. " This ruling is a victor y not just for the students in West Contra Costa Unified, but for ever y student in California who is owed a qualified teacher," said Karissa Provenza, Public Advocates staff attorney. "For over two years, I watched the district consistently fail its most marginalized students with little regard — and then kick the can down the road and ask to be excused for it. The cour t agreed that 'delay is not a real option when the quality of children's educa- tion is at issue.'" The decision has statewide significance. No other Cali- fornia school district had taken the position that a teacher shortage excuses years of failing to provide students with a certificated teacher, per the law. A ruling in WCCUSD's favor would have opened the door for districts across the state to abandon California's more than 20-year Williams guarantee. UTR President Francisco Ortiz has said that this year the district had about 140 substitute teachers. "It's validating that after so many years of us sounding the alarm and really trying to bring attention to the district to actually make this a priority, that the court is in agreement," Ortiz told Richmondside. "It's a good victory for our students and for the rest of California." "By breaking the law, the district has stolen educational opportunities for thousands of children. This is a crucial step to holding our district leadership accountable and providing every child everywhere with an educator in the classroom." —United Teachers of Richmond Organizing Chair Sam Cleare T H E 8 0 0 + M E M B E R S of Santa Rosa Teachers Association (SRTA) have no confidence in Santa Rosa City Schools leaders and the Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools, as the school board recently voted to decimate student support services, make sweeping program changes and deep job cuts to solve the district's financial problems. SRTA members rallied before an April 22 school board meeting, calling on the school board to reverse the massive cuts. While district leaders are touting their draconian approach, SRTA leaders say the move will lead to the educational ruin of the 12,000-student district. " They are harming the students and harming the schools and acting like this is a win for the city," SRTA President Kathryn Howell told the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat. "Reverse the cuts before they do more harm, before they drive more students away, before they force more families out of the district." The votes of no confidence in the Santa Rosa interim superintendent, school board president and county superintendent come after a board approval of a $35-million fiscal recovery plan that will result in 120 layoffs, the dismantling of mental health support staffing for students and a recon- figuration of special education. Last year, the board voted to lay off 150 educators and close six schools by this June. —Julian Peeples Educators and supporters outside of the school board meeting in Santa Rosa. S A N TA R O S A T E AC H E R S : No Confidence Votes in District Leadership 46 cta.org Advocacy