Greetings, 

My name is Curtisha. I am a 33 year old mother of 5 children in the Richmond, CA area. I am bringing this petition against WCCUSD(West Contra Costa Unified School District). There are So many issues at hand and without shedding light on these pressing issues their will never be a change within our school districts especially for our Black and Brown children.

 I am charging WCCUSD with Racism within it’s district and schools. Richmond,CA for many years has been a predominantly black community. Over the recent years the demographics have drastically changed to a predominantly Latina/Latina X/Hispanic communities and with this change comes very unfortunate changes within WCCUSD that can be considered Racist and specifically targeting of our black students. I bring these following charges against WCCUSD:

 

INSIDE WCCUSD BLACK STUDENT UNION ~

To start, back in October 2021 I received a notice from WCCUSD’s BLACK STUDENT UNION. The flyer was given to the children by their teachers. The flyer stated that there was a Black Student Union that teaches students how to deal with their anger and to express their frustrations appropriately. At first glance I thought that was nice, for my children to have a program designed just for them but after a deeper view and very bad wording on the flyer, I took it back to the school dissatisfied.  I met with the Principal and inquired about this Black Student Union. Why is it set up to teach black students to deal with frustrations when its programs and studies should be teaching ALL children how to deal with frustrations and how to properly express yourselves. A few days later the principal met with me and explained that this program was set up by the school district to insure Black students are getting services and are not left behind but WCCUSD immensely failed. All My children were made to come out of class 20 minutes before school was over to participate in this Union against my knowledge or permission to teach this segment on controlling their emotions. When I recover the flyer they where already made to participate. To top off the disrespect we felt as a family from WCCUSD, my children where given bogus awards at the end of school. When my children brought home their awards each of them had the same award from their school saying that the black student Union was recognizing them for excellence. No other awards were received besides the reminder that you are black amongst others.
RACISM WITHIN WCCUSD MUST BE ADDRESSED.

 

 

BOGUS BLACK HISTORY MONTH ~ 

Black history month is portrayed by WCCUSD as this great time of the year that schools will be learning about black excellence but this was and is not the case. Black history month the last 2 years have been a constant reminder for My beautiful black children that they are still in a fight to feel equal. My babies are coming home discouraged and made to feel less than by their school and school district WCCUSD. Because of the predominantly Latina demographics within Richmond, BLACK HISTORY MONTH has secretly been made a choice to many Latina/Hispanic children and teachers within WCCUSD when it should be mandatory to participate and show support of our black students. My sons come home and say they had to watch slave movies all day and that it makes them feel bad because they are only one of two blacks in class and it makes them feel as though they are put on the spot and less than when this should be a time for them to feel empowered. Or fast forward to current  2023 when my children come home and tell me that the principal at their new school sent all the Latina children out the office to give my children a Black Martin Luther King Tshirt. When I ask my Twin sons how did it make them feel, they said horrible. My sons tell me that they don’t under why everyone didn’t get a shirt. Why everyone is not made to celebrate their black skin. As a mother my heart breaks for my children. To feel as though they feel they are not worthy is heartbreaking.                 RACISM WITHIN WCCUSD HAS TO BE ADDRESSED. 

 

 

ASSAULT ON MY DAUGHTER~

In late May 2022 I received a disturbing phone call from the administrative staff at Verde Elementary school which is K-8. I was told that my 13 year old daughter had been attacked and to get to the school. Upon arriving at the school I encountered my daughter who was very distraught. Per the reports from staff my daughter had a disagreement with a male student in her class. One thing led to another and he pulled her hair and she retaliated by slapping the young man. The young man called his mother who came to the school with her teenage daughter. They came onto campus and per the instructions of the mother she ordered the highschool daughter to repeatedly slap my child and punch her. The mother and daughter only left the school after staff came around the corner. This comes just days after the Texas massacre of 19 students at Uvalde Elementary school. I was so heartbroken for my daughter. The police were called. When they arrived at the school they asked to speak to my daughter privately, I agreed, I was told afterwards that they would attempt to make contact with the parent who committed this crime.  When we returned home my daughter told me that when the police officer took her into the room he was not asking her about the horrendous assault that just occurred but rather asking her the Whereabouts of my ex boyfriend who committed acts of domestic violence against me months prior. Because of the timing of this assault school was due to be out for summer in just a couple of days limiting the proper response to this assault from the WCCUSD. I made several complaints without any response from the school district.  In September 2022 when school returned I withdrew my daughters and enrolled them into another middle school. I was told by the school district that they did not have any space anywhere for my other 3 children leaving them to remain at Verde Elementary school. From September 2022-January 2023 I was forced to still have to be around this parent who assaulted my child. This parent was still allowed to come into campus and drop her son off. She was allowed to sit in her car and purposely try to intimidate me. Everytime I saw her I would return to the office and ask why this is allowed. The principal Eric never had a answer except for he was sorry and there is nothing that he can do. After months of inquiring and after a official written complaint that was NEVER responded to I knew I had to do more to share light on what my child/ren have experienced. THERE MUST BE A CHANGE WITHIN WCCUSD!

DISPROPORTIONATELY DISPLACING STUDENTS~

This is yet another claim that I am bringing against the WCCUSD school district. Shortly after raising concerns of racism within the school my children received a notice that they could not return to school until they had received all immunizations that were due.  I was given a notice to get shots including COVID by January 5th or my 5 children would be unenrolled. I notified the district that my 5 children never had immunizations because e they were able to use the religious exemption for many years and that a real plan should be made to make up all these immunizations as they are a lot but I was told that they needed to get everything they were due for before they could return. On January 3 2022 I took my children to the clinic for their shots. Against my better judgement my 8 year old baby girl was given 10 shots including her COVID vaccine all within 5 minutes. My other 4 children were given 12 or more shots each including COVID in the few minutes they were in the office. I was told by the clinic that these are the shots the school is requiring and if they get them now then they can return. I contacted the school later that day of January  3 2022 to notify the office that they just had all their shots and I would be bringing them and the verification the next day. The next day i brought the verification and I was told that My at the time 8 year old daughter would not be returning to her classroom and that she had to go to a different school because they gave her seat away. I asked how could that be when I was given till January 5th and it was only the January 4th. I immediately let the school and WCCUSD know that my daughter is in her 2nd remission from Medulloblastoma(Brain Cancer) and it would be way to much stress on her to have to start a new school by herself without her siblings who are near in age. Especially after getting 10 shots. She’s been through so much from age 3-6 that this would be a major set back for her and our family. I advocated hard for my daughter. With all I had. I brought the notice showing that I was given till January 5th. How could they do this to my baby girl. After calling the school district and complaining I was told that there was nothing that could be done and that if a spot opens up again before the year is over then they will let me know. Weekly thereafter I followed up with the school and school district about returning my daughter to her school. All attempts failed. I fell into deep financial stress as I now had to get my daughter to a school that was 2.1 miles away with limited to no  transportation. I called the school district many a times to let them know that I can’t afford to get my daughter to her school as we lived in North Richmond at the time. I asked for bus services, bus passes or any assistance to get her there since WCCUSD did displace her but all requests were either ignored or simply given a no. My daughter was never returned to her original school. She remained at the displaced school for the remainder of the year. My children have been put out of school twice to three times after this for follow up shots. Often times with only a days notice that they won’t be allowed in. Just recently My twins daughters who are middle school age went to school on January 18,2023. When they got to school they were told that they couldn’t come in because they were due for a 4th Hepatitis shot. They were turned away without the school speaking to me first. When my daughter did get in contact with me 45 minutes after school started they were at a KFC. As I began to panic and inquire as to why they were not in class, my middle school daughter and her twin sister told the same identical story that they school refused to let them in and told them that they could not wait there either to hear from me first. When I went to the school I admit, I was so angry. How could you do that to a child and the only excuse I’m hearing is we tried to call you but you didn’t answer. What happened to a child sitting in the office or nurses room until you hear from mom or family members. Again WCCUSD NEEDS A CHANGE!!!

 

 

WE ARE DEMANDING CHANGE WITHIN WCCUSD

I am calling on all Parents, Teachers, Activist, and Students to stand up against WEST CONTRA COSTA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. Our schools should be a safe and engaging environment for ALL of our children. Under no circumstances should our children have to face RACISM, SEGREGATION OR systematic suppression by a school district. ITS TIME TO CHANGE. ITS TIME TO CALL INTO ACTION A INVESTIGATION AND AUDIT INTO THE OPERATIONS OF WCCUSD. This affects all of our children regardless of race, creed or nationality. These thoughts, ways and previews are being subjected onto our children. LETS STAND UP FOR THESE LITTLE 5 CHILDREN WHO DESERVE JUSTICE. Without your action WCCUSD will continue to drop the ball and fail our children. WCCUSD will continue to create a toxic environment for our children unless we as parents take a stand for our babies. Help me now!! All I have is you all. I can’t afford legal representation but I can use my voice to get our story out there as many more children in this district as experiencing this unfortunate treatment. 

Share this petition, comment, reach out to me or just hug and talk to your babies tonight and let them know that THEY MATTER and that they are loved at home. A INJUSTICE TO ONE IS A INJUSTICE TO ALL. THIS HURTS ALL OF OUR CHILDREN. WHEN ONE CHILD IS DISPLACED OR MISTREATED IT DOESNT JUST HURT THAT CHILD. IT HURTS THE HEARTS OF ALL OF US WHO ARE LONGING FOR CHANGE. IT AFFECTS THEIR FRIENDS, IT AFFECTS THEIR TEACHERS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY IT BREAKS THE SPIRIT OF A CHILD. LETS STOP THESE SCHOOL DISTRICTS FROM TRYING TO RUIN OUR CHILDRENS IDENTITY.