‘We can’t vote on hope’: West Contra Costa school board slashes hundreds of positions

RICHMOND — Another round of major budget cuts hit the West Contra Costa Unified School District, leaving nearly 200 district employees bracing for pink slips on the heels of a major contract win.

With a two-year $87 million budget deficit looming, district trustees agreed to reduce staffing by 324 positions. Of those, 186 are expected to be through layoffs and 138 from existing vacancies.

All departments, from administrators to gardeners and cafeteria workers to teachers and classroom aides...