Parent opinion: Beyond time for a WCCUSD school reopening plan

At this time, the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) has not agreed to, nor communicated a school reopening plan for either the current school year nor the next. All instruction is virtual. Meanwhile, across CA ~82% of schools are already open or are “on track to open” (source). WCCUSD serves El Cerrito, Kensington, Richmond, San Pablo, Pinole, Hercules, and more.

The following is a letter sent to Superintendent Duffy, Associate Superintendent Business Services Dr. Tony Wold, and the WCCUSD Board on Sunday, March 14. No reply has been received. I am simply a concerned parent, who knows that my fortune in life is only possible due to the quality public education I received.

Subject: An urgent request for a clear reopening plan

Dear Superintendent Duffy & Dr Wold (board on cc),

I am the parent of a first grader at Kensington Hilltop. I have been watching and waiting for WCCUSD to make a real plan on re-opening schools and showing that as a district you prioritize the education and well-being of our children.

I have heard in board meetings mention of "a deep lack of trust" in our district. In my experience, there are basically two ways to earn trust:

1. Complete honesty and transparency, or
2. Delivering on your mission so well that your stakeholders don't have to think about it

As of now, WCCUSD district leadership is accomplishing neither.

What I would find extremely helpful for building trust is the following direct communication and goal setting:

1. A clear statement that the 2021-2022 academic year will return to a 5 day a week in person model. Here is an example of such a statement from our neighbors in Albany. Yes there is uncertainty that will require contingency planning, but the plan must be to find solutions and bring our children back.
2. A clear statement on exactly what is limiting re-opening in the Spring. Currently we in the community are left to speculate. If the unions are the only blocker, we have a right to know. Multiple levels of government have prioritized vaccinating educators. The unions will not win any moral arguments by accepting vaccines but refusing to teach in person. The science, as presented clearly in the board's listening sessions, makes clear that even without vaccines, we can safely reopen campuses with appropriate safety precautions. Vaccines make this a slam dunk. Are there other blockers?
3. Leadership on explaining the facts to the community. A year ago we knew very little about the virus and it was appropriate to go virtual. Now we know how the virus spreads and therefore how to mitigate the spread. We know that children are relatively less prone to catching the virus. We know that children will actually wear masks. We have vaccines. We have a positive trajectory on case loads. And importantly, we have science showing the rate of spread in schools is no higher than the already present community spread. We can simultaneously have done the right thing by going virtual, and be doing the right thing by returning. WCCUSD is also taking steps on campus to physically prepare. Show us pictures or a video walkthrough. Make it "real" to the community that we can return safely.
4. Communicate that parents can make a personal choice. Everyone's situation is different. Make it clear that a virtual option will remain for those who choose it.

Our family is very fortunate and I know many in the community have suffered to a significantly higher degree than us. To me, this discrepancy only makes it even more urgent for the district to take real action toward serving its role in the community in a way that raises everyone up, rather than lowers to the common denominator. You have heard these arguments from other parents, but here are some of the ways that continued online learning is causing a serious negative impact for my child and family:

• Academic loss - Two hours of Zoom calls that do not fully engage a first grader can not possibly approximate the in-classroom learning experience. The only way this is even close to working is through us parents taking on a major portion of the teacher's role. WCCUSD's mission includes "the highest quality education", this is not being met.
• Social loss - School serves a role in both social and academic development. The existing online model is completely failing on the social component. WCCUSD's mission includes "make positive life choices, strengthen our community, and successfully participate in a diverse and global society". At an elementary school level, to me this means children learning to interact with other children. Learning how to compromise, share, play, talk, etc. WCCUSD is failing this portion of its mission.
• Emotional toll - Much has been said already on the emotional impact to children. Since online education began, and increasing as more time passes, our first grader is more apt to anger, emotional outbursts, and stating that he "just wants to be a normal kid". WCCUSD's mission includes " strengthen our community", but again this is being failed. The emotional toll also impacts our preschooler and us parents.
• Financial loss - At this point we are paying for school roughly 3 times, but getting in return a subpar substitute for school's role in our society. We pay a significant amount of taxes to fund public schools, our taxes are again being spent through the additional COVID relief education funding, my wife's working hours are reduced to fill part of our teacher's role, and we are paying for additional childcare. The social contract of the public paying the district for our children's education requires the district to actually take responsibility and provide their education.

I'd like to end on a positive note. Despite the above observations, I do believe our son's teacher is making a concerted effort to do what she can within the framework the district is providing. In talking to some parents in other districts, it also seems that Hilltop is doing a better job with virtual learning than some of our neighboring districts. So thank you for that. I'd also like to thank Mr. Phillips specifically for his leadership in advocating for what is right for our children.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I'm looking forward to your action.

Regards,
Chris

Note to readers: if you too would like a plan for safely educating our children, please join WCCUSD Safe Open Schools. Or write or call your board member (contact) or the Superintendent (contact).