West Contra Costa School District to Appoint Interim Leader After Superintendent Announces Retirement

Update, 8 p.m. Tuesday: The West Contra Costa Unified School District Board of Education on Tuesday evening voted unanimously to appoint Kim Moses as interim superintendent. Moses, who is currently the associate superintendent of business services for the district, will officially take on the role of interim superintendent in December, following the retirement of current Superintendent Kenneth Hurst. The vote took place during a closed session board meeting at DeJean Middle School.

The board will begin the search for a permanent superintendent later this year.

Original story, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday:

The West Contra Costa Unified School District board is expected to appoint an interim superintendent on Tuesday, a day after current Superintendent Kenneth Hurst announced plans to step down in December.

Hurst’s announcement, in which he cites family health problems as the main reason for his departure, comes as the district faces long-standing issues with staffing shortages, financial solvency and racism.

“Family and faith are at the core of what I am, and I must prioritize them at this time.” Hurst, who became superintendent in 2021, said in a video announcement on Monday. “I am incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made as a district, and I know that the dedicated leadership team we’ve built will continue this work to support our students and staff.”

In recent months, the district — which serves the cities of Richmond, El Cerrito, San Pablo, Hercules and Pinole — has been hit with a series of setbacks, including a civil rights lawsuit over school building conditions and teacher vacancies. It also failed to pass its budget on time and was forced to close an elementary school because of environmental hazards.

“It just adds to the instability in the district,” said Gabby Micheletti, vice president of United Teachers of Richmond, the union representing over 1,000 educators in the district. “As educators, we’re really here to ensure students are receiving the education and services they need and deserve despite all the chaos going on at the top.”

A drop in enrollment and lack of attendance due to chronic absenteeism have led to a significant decrease in district funding, forcing the school board to make major budget cuts over the past few years, even as it still faces a deficit of more than $20 million in the next three years.

Despite its ongoing challenges, Micheletti thinks the transition to new leadership can be a smooth one that benefits the district.

“We are hopeful that, as we look for a new superintendent, we can find someone who is really student-centered, ready to really uplift the values of equity and inclusivity in this district, and ensuring that all our students are getting what they need,” she said.

In his video announcement on Monday, Hurst said he believes the district is in good hands with the current school board and executive team that oversees the district’s departments, most of whom were appointed this summer.

“The district is in a strong place with a clear vision for the future,” he said. “I’m confident that our leadership, teachers and staff will continue to carry forth the important work we’ve started in ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed.”

That work, according to a press release from the district, includes an equity audit, improvements to staffing and fiscal health, and the creation of 24 Career Technical Education pathways — which provide students with experience in select careers.

“His commitment to anti-racism has left a lasting legacy,” WCCUSD Board President Jamela Smith-Folds said in the release. “While we are saddened to see him retire, we fully support his decision to prioritize his family at this time.”

Carol Darden, a parent of a student at Harding Elementary in El Cerrito, called Hurst an advocate for the district’s students and teachers but mentioned a long-standing lack of transparency in the district predating Hurst’s tenure.

“I would love to see much more transparency around where our dollars are going and what the prioritization process is,” she said.

Darden’s comments echo the feelings of other district parents who, in June, sought to block the board from passing part of the 2024–25 budget because they said they were not involved in the process as state law requires. The board eventually passed the budget last month after making revisions.