Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Community speakers decry proposed cuts at Kennedy High; urge board to protect ethnic studies, language and CTE programs
Summary
Students, teachers and community groups urged the West Contra Costa Unified School District board to preserve Kennedy High School’s 9th‑grade ethnic studies, Spanish‑for‑Spanish‑speakers and CTE pathways, warning that staff reductions and program cuts would destabilize the school and harm student opportunity.
At the April 15 board meeting of the West Contra Costa Unified School District, a steady stream of students, teachers, alumni and community groups urged trustees to reverse proposed staffing reductions and program cuts at Kennedy High School, centering the district’s 9th‑grade ethnic studies course as a priority to retain.
Christian Vil, department chair of social studies at Kennedy High School, said the school faces elimination of its ethnic studies course for 2026–27 after six years of program development and collection of more than 200 petition signatures. “Cuts to full‑time teachers are threatening the end of this program,” Vil told the board, urging trustees to guarantee a full‑time ethnic studies teacher and to add the course to Kennedy’s catalog for next year.
Students, alumni and teachers echoed that appeal. Julisa Blandon, a Kennedy alumna, described ethnic studies as “empowering” and said it inspired her to pursue higher education; dozens of students and alumni asked the board to preserve related electives including Spanish for Spanish speakers, journalism and career technical education that they said keep students engaged.
Teachers and staff described the local impacts of reductions in force. A teacher noted that Kennedy has lost multiple colleagues since 2023 and urged the board to retain three staff members currently completing credentials so the site can stabilize. CTE teacher Mity Perezo called the planned reduction “a gutting of our programs” and asked trustees to prioritize front‑line educators over consultants and contractors.
Community groups also connected school staffing to broader engagement demands. Andrea Munoz, representing the Latina Center and Fierce Advocates, pressed the board to adopt a long‑term community engagement strategy so families — including non‑English speakers — have consistent avenues to participate in decisions. Multiple presenters asked the district to agendaize a communications and community‑engagement presentation by the summer.
Board members did not take an immediate vote on Kennedy program staffing during the meeting. Several trustees acknowledged the pleas and said the district must balance program offerings against fiscal constraints and projected enrollment changes, including a consultant report presented later in the meeting showing a six‑year decline in district enrollment. Trustee comments emphasized a desire to pursue options that could stabilize vulnerable programs while the board and staff develop longer‑term responses.
The public’s next steps include a Kennedy student spring carnival on April 17 that speakers said will spotlight programs and student work; speakers asked trustees to visit sites and to work with staff on staffing decisions before final layoff notices are issued. The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for April 29, 2026.
