Dr. Moses Responds

Interim Superintendent Dr. Kim Moses responded March 26 to frustration about delayed approval of the block schedule at El Cerrito High School for next year.

The following letter was sent to parents on Wednesday afternoon and posted at El Cerrito High School.

Update Regarding ECHS Planning for the 2025-26 School Year

Dear El Cerrito Community,

The West Contra Costa Unified School District values the El Cerrito High School educators and the instructional programs offered to our El Cerrito students. We are focused on working with staff and students to achieve the best outcomes for all. I understand there has been confusion and uncertainty regarding the planning for our 2025-26 school year. I want to address the concerns regarding the future of El Cerrito High School’s Master Schedule.

There has been no reduction to ECHS instructional staff and all course offerings remain on the master schedule for the 2025-26 school year.
There is no recommendation to decrease Advanced Placement (AP) Courses at El Cerrito High however, there is a plan to offer two new AP courses for the 2025-26 school year.
WCCUSD is invested in supporting a 4x4 schedule agreement with the United Teachers of Richmond.

District leadership supports the 4x4 block schedule for El Cerrito High School. The agreement to the block schedule terms for the 2025-26 school year is a collaborative effort among WCCUSD and United Teachers of Richmond (UTR).

For the first time in the history of the 4x4 block schedule, in the 2024-25 school year, some instructors were compensated at a higher rate than the union contract outlines due to language cited in the school-based MOU for ECHS specifically. The district is working to align the MOU language with the negotiated UTR contract language. The timeframe to address this issue is below.

If the site-based MOU has no language suggesting an increase in compensation beyond the UTR negotiated agreement, it will be signed by WCCUSD on or before April 15, 2025.
If the site-based MOU requests additional compensation, it is subject to fiscal review by the Contra Costa County Office of Education. If the MOU has a fiscal impact it will be sent to CCCOE by April 18, 2025, for review and an opinion as to whether WCCUSD can assume the extra expenses in our budget plan.
WCCUSD plans to have the MOU process fully addressed by May 1, 2025.

In closing, I’d like to share that WCCUSD is not prohibiting a 4x4 block schedule for El Cerrito High School. The UTR contract allows for flexibility in course schedules as long as teachers and administration agree to the schedule. An MOU is not required to have the 4x4 block schedule, but an MOU does provide clarity for all involved parties due to the complexity of the model. The current ECHS administration is planning a master schedule for 2025-26 that reflects a 4x4 schedule. It is my hope that this matter is resolved swiftly.

Respectfully,

Kim Moses

Interim Associate Superintendent

West Contra Costa Unified School District