I recently misquoted WCCUSD trustee Todd Groves, reporting that he had stated that "all was fine in Hercules." After reviewing his comments, that isn't what he said, but that was my interpretation of his message. I apologize to Todd for this error. His comments were in response to my interest in seeking to modify the WCCUSD school board election process to one of district-ward elections, as opposed to the current "at-large" elections. He disagrees with me that such modifications are necessary. In May, he wrote the following:
"I believe we should be putting more attention and resources in our most troubled schools which reside mostly in Richmond and San Pablo. I don’t live in either city, but will work hardest for kids with the greatest need. It’s also where I’m spending my greatest amount of time. I can’t see how Hercules, with the best statistics in the district, is being underserved."
I have since received the following assessment (informally) of my daughter's future Hercules elementary school (Ohlone) from a Senior Researcher employed with a reputable education consulting firm. They wrote the following.
“I'm sorry to say, but in my opinion this is a weak school. It seems like it has some good features: relatively small overall size and limited reported behavioral infractions.
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Their assessment left me stunned. Is this what "best in the district" looks like? When I think of best in the district, I think of Madera and Kensington Elementary schools and Hanna Ranch. I don't think of my daughter's future school falling into the category of "best in the district."
I took Todd's comments to mean that from a statistical standpoint, everything was fine in Hercules, that they could continue to focus on the problems in Richmond. I now understand that Todd simply meant we are getting our fair share of attention from the school board, which in my opinion, isn't enough. I do believe we are being underserved, that the district is too large for 5 board members who also have to contend with a myriad of financial crises, numerous subcommittee meetings, in addition to the problems of Richmond, a city of greater than 100,000.
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As a former Richmond teacher, believe me when I say I want Richmond to get the help they need. Richmond must never return to the low point seen before the Williams Lawsuit, that there must be qualified teachers and textbooks in every classroom.
Still, I believe Pinole and Hercules need a full-time representative, not someone who is in triage mode who will divert their attention to these cities when there is fire. Even if the Hercules scores are the "best in the district", they are not good enough.
Respectfully,
Giorgio Cosentino, Hercules parent
