West Contra Costa
Unified School District
Can We Talk Listening Session Report
CAN WE TALK?
Community Voices from District-Wide Listening Sessions
West Contra Costa Unified School District • Fall 2024
Richmond High De Anza High El Cerrito High Pinole Valley High DeJean Middle Vista K-12 Elementary Sites
👥
Staffing Crisis
Mentioned 47+ times
Full staffing, teacher retention, competitive compensation, need for IAs and support staff, reducing class sizes (40+ students reported)
💬
Communication Gaps
Mentioned 38+ times
Need for timely, accurate, transparent communication; follow-through from district; multi-channel approaches beyond email
🤝
Trust & Relationships
Mentioned 31+ times
Building trust between district and sites, community engagement, reducing "toxic relationships," valuing teacher expertise
📚
Student Resources
Mentioned 28+ times
Technology access (students without computers), mental health support, tutoring, after-school programs
🎭
Arts & Enrichment
Mentioned 24+ times
VAPA funding, band programs, sports equipment, ceramics, clubs, maintaining enrichment opportunities
🏫
Facilities & Safety
Mentioned 22+ times
Bathroom conditions, air conditioning needs, campus security, facility disparities between schools
📢 Direct Community Voices
👨🏫 TEACHER PERSPECTIVE
"It would be good if admin did not need to protect the staff from the district. The district's job is to support us, and the teacher is to support the kids, work on providing support vs obstacles."
👨👩👧 PARENT PERSPECTIVE
"Parents are carrying teachers - Amazon wishlists are getting long! Happy teachers make happy classrooms and students."
🎓 STUDENT PERSPECTIVE
"Schedule classes ahead of time; during the summer would be great. Block schedule is great, but it doesn't work because it's done last minute."
🏘️ COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE
"Love and care from individuals is outstanding but the systems are terrible. Wild levels of disparity. One school had a library as big as my house."
✨ What's Working Well
❤️
Dedicated Staff & Community "Committed teachers, students are amazing" • Strong sense of community • Loyalty with graduates returning as staff
🎓
Student Programs Middle College • International Newcomer Academy • DLI at Washington • Vista K-12 Virtual Academy • Increased clubs (MSU, LSA, AAPISU, JSU, TSU)
🏫
School Improvements Facility upgrades at Richmond, Kennedy, Stege • New technology • Free meals • Better orientation programs
🗣️
Community Engagement "This meeting makes you come away with a good feeling" • Open forums • New superintendent from the community
🏆
Student Success More scholarships • School spirit at events • "Feels like more students want to be there" • DeAnza ranking increased
⚠️ Critical Challenges
👥
Severe Staffing Shortages Multiple vacancies • Long-term subs • "Classified can make a couple grand more by driving 10 miles outside" • 40+ students in classrooms
🚽
Facility Conditions "Bathrooms in terrible condition" • Frequently locked • No air conditioning • "Food in urinals, no soap" • Students avoid using bathrooms
📅
Last-Minute Changes Schedules released 1-2 days before school • 6 vs 7 period day changes without explanation • "Too much spin at the beginning of the year"
💔
Equity Disparities "Wild levels of disparity" between schools • Some schools better financed • "Infrastructure is old and needs upgrade"
📞
Communication Breakdowns "LaShante schedules meetings and does not show up" • No response to emails • Website down • Misinformation spreading
🎯 Community's Top Priorities for Leadership
1
Solve Staffing Crisis
Full staffing at all sites, competitive compensation packages, teacher retention strategies, reduce class sizes
2
Reach Union Agreement
"Avoiding a strike" mentioned repeatedly, settle contracts before school year, support teachers to feel valued
3
Fix Communication
Timely, accurate information, follow-through on commitments, diverse communication channels, close the loop
4
Build Trust
"Basic trust" between district and sites, respect teacher expertise, reduce bureaucracy, face time with community
5
Student Well-Being
Mental health resources, emotional support, "not a patch, it must be systemic," anti-racism policy implementation
6
Resource Equity
Address disparities between schools, direct funds to classrooms, technology for all students, facility upgrades
📋 Specific Community Requests
🎓 Academic & Scheduling
Release student schedules during summer, not 1-2 days before school
Return to 7-period day option at high schools
More AP classes and equitable access across schools
Accurate enrollment projections to prevent mid-year changes
Financial literacy and life skills programs
🏫 Facilities & Resources
Fix and maintain bathrooms - urgent health and dignity issue
Install air conditioning in hot classrooms
Sports equipment funding (balls, uniforms, transportation)
Ensure all students have computers by first week
Address electrical issues at El Cerrito High
👥 Support Services
More counselors - both academic and mental health
Trained substitutes, not just warm bodies
In-person special education support, not virtual
After-school tutoring and enrichment programs
Make volunteering easier for parents
💬 Communication & Transparency
Functional district website
Clear budget explanations for "lay people"
Immigration policy clarity and support
Stop misinformation - provide fact-checking
School-specific meetings for each community
By the Numbers
10+ School Sites Represented 200+ Community Participants 500+ Individual Comments
West Contra Costa Unified School District
"Can We Talk" Community Listening Sessions • Fall 2024
"A good attitude at this level trickles down"
CAN WE TALK?
Community Survey & Discussion Results
West Contra Costa Unified School District
222
Total Responses
2.91
Overall Score (out of 5)
10
Key Areas Assessed
4
Stakeholder Groups
📊 Satisfaction Scores by Area
← Needs Significant Improvement Neutral Strong Performance →
🎯 Attendance & Engagement Commitment
3.3
🤝 Community Partnership Development
3
⚖️ Equity & Inclusion in Decision-Making
3.1
📚 Academic Success Priority
3.03
👂 Community Input & Listening
2.9
💬 Leadership Communication Clarity
2.8
➡️ Overall Direction & Progress
2.81
🎯 Priority Alignment with Needs
2.77
💰 Fair Resource Distribution
2.47
👥 Adequate Staffing Levels
2.43
💡 Community Voices: Strengths & Challenges
✅ What's Working Well
👨🏫 Dedicated Staff: "Committed teachers, students are amazing" - Strong dedication from teachers and site administrators
🎓 Student Engagement: Increased participation in clubs, sports, and activities. New inclusive student unions (MSU, LSA, AAPISU, JSU)
🤝 Community Spirit: "Kids, families and people" - Positive intentions, loyalty to district with graduates returning as staff
✨ School Culture: Better orientation programs, more school spirit at events, environment of acceptance for volunteers
⚠️ Critical Challenges
👥 Staffing Crisis: "Full staffs" needed urgently. Lack of IAs, teachers accepting overages, 40+ students in classrooms
💬 Communication Gaps: "Communication is accurate and does not change moments before implementation" - Need for timely, clear district communication
💰 Resource Issues: "3rd week of school, some students still have no computers" - Compensation package concerns, neighboring districts pay more
🏫 Facility Concerns: "Bathrooms are in terrible condition" - Maintenance issues, vaping problems, accessibility challenges
"Emotional well-being of the students, they have so many real world things that are happening, we need more resources...they get passed around and then they get expelled; more focused resources; but not a patch, it must be systemic."
- Community Member
🎯 Top Priorities for Leadership Focus
1
Address Staffing Crisis
Full staffing, competitive compensation, reduce class sizes, hire IAs and support staff
2
Improve Communication
Clear, timely, transparent messaging. Diverse communication methods beyond email
3
Student Well-Being
Mental health resources, emotional support, systemic solutions not patches
4
Build Trust
Basic trust between district and sites, consistency in leadership, face time
5
Resource Allocation
Direct support to classrooms, technology for all students, facility improvements
6
Union Agreements
Reach agreements before school starts, streamline contract processes
🗣️ Specific Stakeholder Recommendations
Staff Perspective
"It would be good if admin did not need to protect the staff from the district. The district's job is to support us, and the teacher is to support the kids, work on providing support vs obstacles."
Family Perspective
"Foster an environment that makes kids want to come to school. Use real-world math to help students connect to the math curriculum."
Student Perspective
"Schedule classes ahead of time; during the summer would be great. More counselors needed. Block schedule is great, but it doesn't work because it's done last minute."
Community Perspective
"Leverage Vista as the option for chronic absenteeism; virtual options are the wave of the future. Allow principals to advertise Vista."
📈 Participation Breakdown
43%
Family Members
39%
Staff
13%
Students
5%
Community
🚀 Immediate Action Items
📋
Conduct staffing audit & develop recruitment plan
📢
Implement multi-channel communication strategy
🏥
Expand mental health & wellness resources
West Contra Costa Unified School District | Community Survey Results 2024-2025
Based on 222 survey responses and multiple community discussion sessions
📊 Can We Talk Survey Results
Community Feedback on School Leadership & Priorities
222
Total Responses
4
Stakeholder Groups
10
Key Questions
2.91
Avg Satisfaction (out of 5)
Loading survey data...
Response Distribution by Role
Overall Satisfaction by Question
Strongly Disagree (1) Neutral (3) Strongly Agree (5)
Top Concerns: Staffing & Resources
Bright Spots: Attendance & Community
Response Sentiment Distribution
🔍 Key Insights
⚠️
Critical Challenge: Staffing adequacy received the lowest average score (2.43/5), indicating this is the most pressing concern across all stakeholder groups.
📉
Resource Distribution: Fair and effective resource distribution scored second-lowest (2.47/5), suggesting systemic resource allocation issues.
✅
Positive Areas: Commitment to attendance/engagement (3.37/5) and community partnerships (3.20/5) show relative strength.
💬
Communication Gap: Leadership communication scored below neutral (2.89/5), indicating need for improved transparency and clarity.
📊
Participation: Strong family engagement (43% of responses) but lower student voice (13%), suggesting opportunity to increase student input.