WCCUSD Community,

Teachers at Richmond High School are bringing forth this petition to shed light on the specific health and safety concerns being experienced by students and staff on campus, and uplift student demands for increased safety measures and district accountability.

Here’s a snapshot of what is currently happening at Richmond High School:

• Since returning to school on 1/3 with only 8 days of instruction, a total of 91 positive cases on campus, this number is not including students who have tested positive for covid or are quarantining that have not come to campus.
  • Lack of contract tracing and formal covid team leading to breakouts in at least two classrooms, and no proper measures taken 
• 40% of students and 25% of teachers have been out each day due to testing positive, quarantining or not feeling safe on campus
• Richmond High’s main building does not have any windows and class sizes do not allow for proper social distancing amidst this surge. Staff were told that all classrooms would be fit with air purifier systems, but multiple staff members have posed serious concerns around filters not being changed in a timely manner. Additionally, classrooms in the 600 building (which contains windows) were not given air purifier systems until returning to break on 1/3.
• No access to sanitizer stations in large meeting areas like the lunchrooms and hallways
• No access to recommended K95 masks for students

Unfortunately, these conditions have been overshadowed by the rest of the district (El Cerrito, Hercules, and Pinole Valley) having more community resources and therefore experiencing the pandemic differently. Richmond High School, a school situated in a primarily working-class community of color has different needs that are being ignored by our district.

Therefore, students at Richmond high have taken it upon themselves to protect themselves and their community by protesting these conditions and holding a sick out on Friday, January 14th and Wednesday, January 19th. This is in addition to sending a letter of demands to the superintendent and being present for public comment at the school board meeting.

The staff at Richmond High School are backing student demands and uplifting them to engage the whole community. They are as follows:

• Increased testing sites for the community
• 2x a week PCR and rapid testing
• More at home tests supplied to students
• Increased PPE in classrooms
• KN95/N95 provided to students
• Formal covid team
• Increased opportunities for students to continue learning if they have to be out of school
  • Equitable accommodations for students experiencing covid

Please support us by emailing or calling Dr. Kenneth Hurst and the school board and uplift our demands:

Dr. Kenneth Hurst
Email: chris.hurst@wccusd.net
Phone: (510) 231-1103

Jamela Smith-Folds, Trustee Area 1
C: (510)-231-1101
Email: Jamela.smith@wccusd.net

Otheree Christian, Trustee Area 2
C: (510)-860-3389
Email: ochristian@wccusd.net

Mister Phillips, Trustee Area 3
C: (510)-307-7872
Email: mister.phillips@wccusd.net

Demetrio Gonzalez Hoy, Trustee Area 4
C: (510)-680-9987
Email: dgonzalez@wccusd.net

Leslie Reckler, Trustee Area 5
C: (510)-408-6123
Email: Leslie.reckler@wccusd.net