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Parents, teachers and students urge WCCUSD board to spare music, outreach workers and oppose Betty Reid Soskin merger
Summary
Hundreds of public commenters at the West Contra Costa Unified board meeting pressed trustees to delay or reverse proposed cuts that would eliminate school community outreach workers, elementary band, librarians and a K–8 model, and many asked the board to protect Spanish for Spanish speakers at Kennedy High; multiple students and teachers described the programs' direct benefits.
Dozens of teachers, students and parents told the West Contra Costa Unified board on Feb. 11 that proposals in the fiscal solvency plan would damage school stability and equity if implemented without phased planning or additional protections.
“We cannot cut our way to student success,” teacher and parent speakers repeatedly told trustees during more than an hour of public comment. Educators, union representatives and dozens of students from elementary and middle schools emphasized three recurring themes: school community outreach workers (scows) are critical for attendance, family engagement and food access; elementary band and music programs are pipelines into award‑winning secondary ensembles and must remain centrally supported; and rapid school mergers or K–8 dissolutions (including the proposed Betty Reid…
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