Jana Kadah

3 weeks ago | richmondside.org | Jana Kadah

BREAKING: The West Contra Costa Unified School District on Wednesday night announced it is hiring a former district educator as its new superintendent. Cheryl Cotton spoke at the school board meeting tonight at DeJean Middle School in Richmond just after the news was announced.  “I am so proud to be home,” Cotton said. “I see our beauty, I see our strength and our assets.

4 weeks ago | richmondside.org | Jana Kadah

For a decade, every graduating senior in Richmond has had access to a simple but powerful gift: $1,500 a year to continue their education. The money came from a legal settlement between the city and Chevron after a 2012 refinery fire covered a large swath of the Bay Area in dark black smoke. The fund turned something frightening into a positive: a nonprofit scholarship program that has supported thousands of students.

1 month ago | richmondside.org | Jana Kadah

Less than a year after Stege Elementary was suddenly shut down for environmental hazards, parents and community leaders are organizing to get their lead poisoning questions answered. A report by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) released Jan. 22 found that construction workers who were doing renovations at Stege Elementary last summer, before the district closed the school, were likely exposed to elevated lead levels and had not been warned about the risks.

1 month ago | richmondside.org | Jana Kadah

The West Contra Costa Unified School District board plans to announce the new superintendent at its June 11 meeting at the latest  — if all goes according to plan.  After a months-long search and several public meetings to hear what community members want in their next schools leader, school board President Leslie Reckler said in a press release today that after interviewing three top candidates, the board selected a finalist and is doing reference checks and negotiating a contract.

May 5, 2024 | localnewsmatters.org | Jana Kadah |San Jose Spotlight

A decades old staple in San Jose’s art scene is at risk of closing, so it’s turning to the community for help. The San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, located in downtown’s SoFA district, has raised enough money to survive until July. After that it’s up to donors, visitors and fans to help raise a total of $300,000 — and the museum is already halfway there. The 42-year-old museum is a small, beloved part of San Jose’s burgeoning art scene.