WCCUSD Chris Hurst released a video Monday announcing that he will be leaving the school district in December for personal family reasons.
In the video Hurst, who has been with the district since May of 2021, said his mother-in-law is facing “serious health challenges,” and that he and his wife will be relocating to live closer to her. The statement was posted just hours after Hurst attended the “State of Our District” breakfast event Monday morning.
Special WCCUSD board meeting Tuesday
WHAT: School board meeting to appoint interim superintendent.
WHEN: 4 p.m. Tuesday (closed session followed by public session)
WHERE: DeJean Middle School, 3400 Macdonald Ave., Richmond
FOR MORE INFO: The meeting will also be available on Zoom. See the agenda here.
“Family is my top priority at this time. I must focus on being there for my loved ones,” Hurst said.
His departure comes after several challenging months for the district, which failed to pass its 2024-25 budget on time due to strife surrounding its local accountability plan, an in-depth blueprint for how the district serves its most at-risk students.
Amidst that, the district was hit by a civil rights lawsuit filed in July on behalf of parents and students at several school sites, including Stege Elementary and Kennedy High School in Richmond.
Hurst himself was at the center of parental frustration over the sudden closure of Stege Elementary after workers found asbestos and lead while repairing windows at the school. Parents demanded answers from Hurst about whether their children had health risks from environmental hazards — questions which they say still haven’t been fully answered.
Soon after the lawsuit was filed, the district shocked parents by announcing that the Stege would be indefinitely closed and its elementary students relocated to DeJean Middle School.
At last week’s board meeting, the school community continued voicing concerns, with parents and teachers decrying what they see as a “staffing crisis” at multiple local schools.
About five teachers came forward during public comment to express their frustration. Educators described how heavy reliance on long-term substitutes hurts students and creates an unstable environment, placing the students at a disadvantage. A couple of counselors spoke, saying that some schools, like Pinole Middle School, have too many students and too few teachers, and cannot offer core classes like English literature.
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“His commitment to anti-racism has left a lasting legacy. While we are saddened to see him retire, we fully support his decision to prioritize his family at this time.”
— WCCUSD school board President Jamela Smith-Folds
Hurst said in the video that he is proud of what WCCUSD accomplished during his tenure and said that he will help with the transition to a new district leader.
“The district is in a strong place with a clear vision for the future,” Hurst 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.”
Hurst was commended for his leadership and dedication by school board President Jamela Smith-Folds, who was quoted in a press release sent out by the district.
“His commitment to anti-racism has left a lasting legacy. While we are saddened to see him retire, we fully support his decision to prioritize his family at this time,” Smith-Folds said.
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“The district is in a strong place with a clear vision for the future.”
— WCCUSD Superintendent Chris Hurst, in his resignation statement
The district said in a press release that Hurst led significant initiatives, including the district’s equity audit, the creation of 24 Career Technical Education pathways and securing fiscal solvency for the district.
This is a developing story, and Richmondside will update it when further details are available.
