Education is Human Rights Issue, Richmond City Officials Say
Oct. 22--RICHMON -- Richmond city leaders want state lawmakers to make education spending a priority and this week called upon the West Contra Costa school district to resolve working and learning conditions at campuses.
Having as many as 50 to 60 students in a class and an inadequate number of desks, chairs, books and computers is unacceptable, they said. Teachers and students deserve quality working and learning conditions, they added.
"These are the kind of things that drive some of the best and qualified teachers out of the profession," said Terri Jackson, vice president of the United Teachers of Richmond and a sixth-grade teacher. "It's that they don't have the resources, they don't have the support."
The City Council unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday encouraging the school board to reach an agreement with teachers on stalled contract talks. The council also plans to write a letter to the governor and state Legislature, where local schools get much of their funding, to urge them to improve education spending. The council took up the issue at the request of its Human Rights and Human Relations Commission.
On Wednesday, the school district and teachers union reached a tentative agreement. The parties have been negotiating for months on health benefits and working conditions. Union members will vote in early November on the proposed deal.
Katherine Tam covers Richmond. Follow her on Twitter at ------
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