Teachers and community members press WCCUSD board for transparency on hiring and stronger anti-racism action

Multiple public speakers used the public-comment periods at the July 15 West Contra Costa Unified School District board meeting to press the board for transparency about a recent hiring process and to demand concrete action on the district's anti-racism statement.

In closed-session public comment, Sue Khan read a June 29 letter saying employees were "sincerely concerned over the failure of the board of trustees to report on the action or lack thereof regarding the executive director position." Khan said district employees had been told a finalist, Christine Hatcher, would be recommended after a rigorous selection process that concluded in closed session on June 24. "No report was given to the public during open session following a lengthy closed session regarding that position... The very next day, this position was again posted on EdJoin," she read. Khan asked the board to reconsider failing to appoint Hatcher and to provide clarity.

Stephanie Hearn, speaking for "the leadership of SSA," echoed concerns about transparency, consistency and confidence in promotional practices, saying the reposting and silence after closed session "has created uncertainty, speculation, and diminished confidence in the integrity of the process." Maisha Harris Gasch, a teacher, said the situation has harmed employee morale as the district enters the new school year and asked the board to assist with healing.

During standing reports and public comment, several speakers — including a representative of the Council of Elders and a community group identified as ASAP — urged the board to implement the district's anti-racism statement with concrete action. The Council of Elders asked the superintendent to establish a written, tiered system of consequences for use of a racial slur across TK'12 schools and requested that be presented at a special board meeting or the first board meeting in August 2026 so it can be implemented in the first week of the 2026'27 school year.

Board members acknowledged the public comments. Staff later ratified several closed-session principal appointments (Harding, Verde and Kennedy), but the board did not provide an on-the-record explanation at the meeting for the reported reposting of the executive-director vacancy.

Next steps: public speakers requested a public explanation and reconsideration regarding the executive-director recruitment outcome; Council of Elders requested a written tiered-consequences plan by the end of July and presentation to the board in August.