RICHMOND — West Contra Costa County educators say they’re still gearing up for a strike despite the release of a state report meant to help move the teachers union and district administrators closer to a new contract.

United Teachers of Richmond, which represents about 1,400 educators across dozens of campuses, alerted district leadership that the union plans to begin its strike Thursday. Picketing will begin at every campus 45 minutes before the first bell sounds, the union announced in a press release Monday evening.

“Striking is the last resort — we want to teach. But we know this truth: the status quo is failing our students,” read the press release set out by union President Francisco Ortiz. “This is about our students’ futures — nothing less.”

For nearly 10 months, bargaining team

See Full Page