October 12, 2024—Reporter Soren Hemmila spoke with Staff Attorney Karissa Provenza about the Contra Costa County Superior Court’s decision regarding the lawsuit Public Advocates filed on behalf of six plaintiffs (educators, parents, and students) against West Contra Unified School District for neglecting their responsibility to primarily Black and Brown students, and English learners at several schools in the district, and failing to address their complaints. The Contra Costa Superior Court judge declined to order WCCUSD to fix facilities and demonstrate to the state that they have legal and minimally qualified teachers in place, despite years of district inaction and illegal staffing practices that deprive students of a safe and stable learning environment.

“Karissa Provenza, Staff Attorney for Public Advocates, called Friday’s ruling deeply disappointing. Provenza, who has worked alongside teachers, parents, and students for two years, said she has witnessed how the district has failed its most marginalized students.

‘For over a year, the students and teachers of Stege Elementary have pleaded with the district to take action and provide its students with a safe place to play, grow, and learn from qualified and supported teachers,’ Provenza said in a statement.

‘Teachers across WCCUSD have urged the district to better support them. Teachers are critical to a student’s life, and having the stability of a permanent and qualified teacher is directly related to student confidence and outcomes. Despite this setback, we will continue to fight.’ “

Read the story to hear from Plaintiffs and learn more.