Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey (center) recently visited Crossroads High School in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District.

- Photo courtesy of Christina Filios Yiannakopoulos

Message from Contra Costa County

Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey

Dear Community Members,

With the most recent data from public health officials, I am optimistic that the latest COVID-19 surge is winding down.

As the community opens up, I have been able to visit more schools and programs to see how in-person instruction is going and the impact of the pandemic on school operations.

This month, I had the opportunity to visit Crossroads High School in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District, a program that serves pregnant and parenting teens and their children. This school and its students have a special place in my heart because 30-plus years ago, I was in their shoes. I was a teen mother trying to find my way.

That experience continues to impact the way I approach my work. Too many students in difficult situations fall through the cracks. Our safety net has too many holes and needs to be inspected and repaired. The students at Crossroads have a support system that provides important things like childcare and health clinics while they earn a high school diploma.

Crossroads is not the only school providing its students important resources; they exist all over this county. During the pandemic, those resources have become more robust with things like free meals and additional mental health offerings. We are heading in the right direction but have a lot more work to do to provide students and families with the resources they need to prevent the most vulnerable from falling through the cracks.

In this issue, you can read about some of the efforts the Contra Costa County Office of Education is taking to help schools and school districts provide much-needed resources to students. The Wellness in Schools Program (WISP), a partnership between CCCOE and county Behavioral Health, will provide more support for students who need mental health services. The county office is also serving as a Homeless Technical Assistance Center, lending expertise and resources to several other counties to support the unhoused students and families in their areas.

I hope you enjoy reading about these efforts. As always, feel free to send me your feedback on things you read here or any other issues of concern.

In community,

Lynn Mackey

Board of Education Completes Redistricting Process, Adopts New Political Boundaries

The Contra Costa County Board of Education recently completed the constitutionally-mandated redistricting process, adopting a map that draws new political boundaries for elected members.

The new map with five Trustee Areas will be in place for the 2022 election cycle.

“For the next decade, the adopted map will determine the Trustee Areas for the Board of Education,” Contra Costa County Board of Education president Sarah Butler said. “I want to thank the members of the community and my colleagues on the Board for their input into this process. The feedback was incorporated, and the adopted map accurately reflects the will of the people.”

In partnership with Contra Costa County Behavioral Health Services (BHS), the Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE) received a four-year, $6 million grant from the state’s Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSSA) to support school-based mental health services.

Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE) won a three-year grant from the California Department of Education (CDE) worth $4.5 million to serve as one of three Education for Homeless Children and Youth Technical Assistance Centers in the state.

CCCOE will serve 25 counties in Northern California.

For the fifth-consecutive year, California High School has claimed the Contra Costa County Mock Trials championship. California High School defeated Miramonte High School in the final trial and will represent the county at the California Mock Trial Finals in March.

PVHS Junior Wins County's Poetry Out Loud Contest

Blessing Mahati, a junior at Pinole Valley High School, took the top prize at the 2022 Poetry Out Loud Contra Costa County Finals Live Event. The finals were held on Feb. 10 and students participated from 10 high schools: Las Lomas, Prospect, Independence Monte Vista, Deer Valley, Pinole Valley, Mt. McKinley, Delta Vista, San Ramon Valley and John Henry.

Edna Hill Earns Middle School Honor for Sixth Time

Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey congratulated Edna Hill Middle School for being re-designated a 2022 California School to Watch. This is the sixth time Edna Hill has won the honor. State Superintendent Tony Thurmond announced the award, which goes to schools that have demonstrated sustained progress as a high-performing middle school.

32nd District PTA Offers Scholarships for Students

Thirty-Second District PTA awards up to six $500.00 scholarships to high school seniors graduating from Contra Costa County high schools that participate in an active Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA). These scholarships focus on the categories of school volunteering, community service, personal challenge, and exemplification of PTA values. For more information or questions, please, email scholarships@32ndpta.org.

County Office of Education Distributes COVID Supplies

The Contra Costa County Office of Education has played a key role in distributing masks and COVID-19 tests to students and school employees since the onset of the omicron surge. The State of California allocated 2.2 million masks and nearly 190,000 COVID-19 tests for distribution to Contra Costa County school students and employees.