The state of California has made available millions of dollars for Community Schools. The California Teachers Association (CTA) and the National Education Association (NEA) have been promoting Community Schools. My local union United Teachers of Richmond (UTR) helped my district secure over 30 million dollars to develop Community Schools. UTR fought hard to get Community School language in our new contract. But what are Community Schools?

The vision is noble, to transform our schools into places where the community has more democratic control over what takes place in them. Parents will become active participants in their child’s education. Teachers will have more control over curriculum and the learning environment. Community Schools will be a place where the whole child is centered. More than just wrap around services, Community Schools will strive to meet all needs of the child, academic, physical and emotional. Community Schools will work to be socially just. 

How will this transformation take place?

In our new contract are 5 pages of new language. Of course, it will be a multi-year endeavor. Our Community Schools Article 53 starts with: “ This article shall remain in effect through June, 2027, or until state funding expires, whichever occurs later.” (my emphasis added) Article 53 primarily concerns itself with setting up governance structures by which the Community Schools grant funds will be used. At the district level, there will be a Community Schools Support Collaborative. A committee comprised of 4 co-chairs, one from the district, one from UTR, one parent and one from one of the district’s oversight committees. Each co-chair will appoint 5 committee members. There will be a Systems Change Collaborative to facilitate integration of district and community services and to promote racial equity and meeting needs through policy, resource allocation and community programs. The membership composition of this committee is not specified. After an opt-in process and needs information gathering dach Community School shall form an Action Collaborative composed of family members including students, staff, site admin. and a Community School Director as well as an Extended Learning Coordinator. The position of Community School Director (CSD) and Extended Learning Director (ELD) are very important for the success of this program at the site level. I assume these positions will be full time, but that is not specified in the contract.

To sum up:

The vision of this program is inspirational. We know that making this kind of transformational change to a more democratic and people based school system is hard work requiring many years. It will require getting the right people in these positions. People who believe in this vision and who are strong and have the resolve to stay in place and fight to make these changes. It is worth the effort. These changes could make our schools an extension of our communities and thereby truly responsive to our community’s needs and resistant to attempts at privatization.

      Eric Swabeck

3rd grade teacher

Lake Elementary, WCCUSD