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Community Corner

WCCUSD trustee fights for status quo

Below is a communication from WCCUSD trustee, Todd Groves, that has been making  its way through the education community.  His words staunchly defend the status quo, including the efforts of trustees Madeline Kronenberg and Charles Ramsey.  Mr. Groves blames the failure of Measure H to pass on two millionaires.  What Mr. Groves does not understand is that the voters are not dumb or easily manipulated.  

Many of us voted down the Measure for our own reasons based on our own observations and concerns.  Many of us would also like to see a change in leadership.  Mr. Groves is critical of the Contra Costa Times.  If not for the media, what voice would the average citizen have?  Mr. Groves and those candidates he seeks to endorse, including Mr. Chau, will have support from the unions and the current board members and the WCCUSD political machine.   

The efforts of Mrs. Kronenberg are appreciated.  Yes, the Ivy League Connection is a very positive program, but it is a small program for a lucky (lottery system?), hard-working few.  The Ivy League Connection program is analogous to a charter school, that it is  a life-raft helping a few on a large, floundering ship.  Some of us want to see systemic change, including the hiring of a new Superintendent with the expectations of a better-managed school district.  

Many (most?) of us who want such change are defenders of public education, that we are not seeking privatization of the public education system.   Effective leadership is a step in the right direction.  No more life rafts.  It's time to right the WCCUSD ship.

Here is the communication from Mr. Groves:


"Hi (name redacted),

We have much work before us. The first order of business is to get Madeline and Peter Chau into office in the November election. I will ask all that have benefitted from Charles’ and Madeline’s vision, particularly the ILC students, to testify to Madeline’s unswerving devotion to West County students. No other candidates can share her record of accomplishment, be it the ILC or sending students to HBCU’s to her work with 4 Richmond. If it can possibly benefit West County students,  Madeline has done it.

Madeline has decades in service to our students and significantly improved the lives of REAL WCCUSD children. Our critics have no such accomplishments. Let us reflect on this when attacked. I have no doubt that those behind our bond opposition are testing the waters for displacing Madeline. Pure and simple, they are pro-charter/neo-liberal, anti-labor ideologues that want to privatize public goods. 
Look to New Orleans to see the vision. The Ed reformers mark of success is to educate underprivileged kids to a level that they can design the machines that put their parents out of work. We should all be terrified of their social Darwinist worldview. Charles has set the standard for our district.  He defied the overwhelming convention that impoverished communities cannot lift themselves from the clutches of oppression. When the Contra Costa Times set all its resources against our Bond measure , the paper endorsed the increase of Piedmont’s enormous school taxes –multiples of WCCUSD’s- because “they can afford it.” The Ramsey vision is that our humble community can prioritize, struggle and sacrifice to match or exceed  accomplishments the vaunted school districts of privileged rich. He has shown me what is possible.

I am lucky to inherit the fruits of my colleagues’ accomplishments. 
Charles and Madeline have been pushing me to develop their work ethic in my board efforts. No one will ever work harder for WCCUSD students than they. Let’s make sure Madeline and Peter have every need resource in the next election. If they fall victim to the metastasizing, privatizing ideology, public schooling will become a quaint practice relegated to our wealthiest communities while the urban poor learn in petri dishes drawn from rich people’s vanities. 

Two millionaires have decided to keep thousands of poor WCCUSD students in dilapidated facilities without access to modern technology- for what reason? Do we let it stand? I say we ask the families of Stege, Grant, Kennedy and Richmond High whether they rest better now that Measure H has failed. I admire my colleagues beyond measure.

No one endures the slings and arrows attached to this work without an abiding love of students. Madeline and Charles should hear from us all that their enormous efforts are valued. 


Todd A. Groves WCCUSD Trustee

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