Cross Agency Town Hall

The West Contra Costa Unified School District held a Cross Agency Town Hall on August 7, 2026, to address environmental contamination concerns at Kennedy High School. The meeting focused on the detection of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in the soil beneath the campus and ongoing testing of indoor and outdoor air to assess potential vapor intrusion risks. District and city officials, along with the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), discussed the timeline of discovery, testing procedures, and mitigation plans. The district has restricted access to the Kennedy campus and the Richmond Swim Center as precautionary measures. Officials emphasized the use of stringent state risk assessment standards and committed to transparency by making raw lab results publicly available. They are exploring alternative real estate options to ensure continuity of education if the contamination poses a risk to reopening. Community members raised concerns about communication, historical contamination sources, and the scope of testing across other district schools. The district and city pledged ongoing collaboration, daily updates, and engagement with medical professionals to address health concerns and environmental justice issues. No immediate health risks were identified based on current data, but further analysis is pending.