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Parents and teachers urge West Contra Costa board to save Kennedy High programs and elementary music
Summary
Dozens of parents, students and teachers told the board the district's staffing and program cuts—especially at Kennedy High—will harm students and depress attendance; speakers asked the board to find central funding for elementary music and to protect ethnic‑studies and CTE courses.
Dozens of community members raised alarm at the March 11 West Contra Costa Unified School District board meeting over proposed staff and program reductions at Kennedy High School and the possible end of district‑funded elementary music. Speakers argued cuts threaten student engagement and enrollment.
"I'm Kimberly Chamberlain, IFPTE Local 21 SSA chapter president," said Kimberly Chamberlain as she opened public comment, framing staff reductions as losses for students. Teachers and parents from Kennedy described program losses and steep staffing cuts; one teacher said Kennedy faces the projected loss of roughly 11 full‑time equivalent positions and warned that reduced electives will make the campus less attractive to families.
Multiple speakers asked the district to preserve elementary music. Hannah Ranch second‑grade teacher Sarah Creeley told trustees, "I urge you to please save elementary music," describing music as transformative for students who struggle academically. Joan Hadeshi, a nine‑year elementary music teacher in Hercules, said she has seen students remain in school because of music: "music is the only thing that keeps him coming."
Kennedy staff members also raised concerns about the allocation and intended use of a 0.4 FTE position the board had previously saved. Kumiana Guijara, a Kennedy science teacher, said the 0.4 FTE appears to be directed to ninth‑period global electives and "might not actually be for Kennedy students," and she asked for clarification and written follow‑up from district staff.
Speakers urged alternatives to cuts, including centralizing VAPA funding, hiring a coordinator to manage music across sites, parcel‑tax renewal to protect ongoing programs, and proactive attendance campaigns to reclaim students. Community members cautioned that cutting popular programs would reduce average daily attendance and worsen the district's fiscal picture.
The board heard the comments during the public‑comment period; trustees acknowledged the concerns and later discussed parcel‑tax planning and attendance recovery as part of the district's budget response.
