From environmental hazard to ‘an act of justice,’ this East Bay school is beginning to rebuild

RICHMOND — West Contra Costa Unified School District has officially begun rebuilding Stege Elementary School, a campus previously in “deplorable” conditions that predominantly educated Black and Latino students for generations.

Dozens of students, parents, school employees, community members and elected leaders gathered in a dirt lot at 4949 Cypress Ave. on Jan. 22 to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new campus. The bell welcoming students back to the facility is expected to ring by fall 2027.

“This groundbreaking represents the result of your tireless advocacy, partnership and our district’s commitment to invest in every student’s future. We are building a school that will inspire learning, foster creativity and belonging, and support academic success,” said Superintendent Cheryl Cotton at the groundbreaking celebration.

The new campus is expected to be “state of the art,” “beautiful,” and “exactly what our students need to learn, to thrive and to grow every single day,” said Cotton, whose father attended Stege Elementary School in the 1940s.

Originally built in 1903 and then rebuilt 40 years later, Stege Elementary School has been one of the oldest campuses in Richmond and the West Contra Costa Unified School District. It served as a vital institution during World War II, educating the children of Richmond’s new Black residents as they made the great migration west, Contra Costa Supervisor John Gioia said.

The campus has continued to serve predominantly Black and Latino students over the decades. As of 2025, 42% of its students were Hispanic, 32.4% were Black, 9.3% were white and 9% were Asian, according to data from the California School Dashboard. A majority of students, 84.4%, were also considered socioeconomically disadvantaged.

New and returning Stege students will soon be welcomed to a campus with a brand new kitchen, multipurpose room, library, administration building, transitional kindergarten and kindergarten building, a play space surrounding a centrally located outdoor learning and play area, and a first to sixth grade classroom wing fitted with specialty labs.

“This school will be more than walls and classrooms. It will be a source of pride and a foundation for future generations,” Board of Trustees President Guadalupe Enllana said. “Together, we are building more than a school. We are building opportunity, hope, and a great future for all our children.”

Getting to the January groundbreaking wasn’t easy. Parents and educators had rung alarm bells about poor conditions at the school for years before eventually suing the district in July 2024 and filing multiple “Williams” complaints with the California Department of Education in February that same year. “Williams” complaints are notices filed with school and district administrators that allege a student’s rights to quality instruction materials, teachers or safety are being violated.

Stalls with overflowing sewage, exposed wires, no sanitary sinks in the kitchen, pests and vermin and alleged asbestos were among the concerns the community detailed during a presentation in mid 2024. The district abruptly shuttered the school that same year after discovering environmental hazards during summer repair work.

A full rebuild of the campus is an outcome families fought for, led by Lakisha Mitchell-Keith, a third-generation Richmond resident who grew up across the street from the school, and Michele Jackson, chair of the education committee for the NAACP El Cerrito branch.

The district had previously planned to renovate or “modernize” the campus before families and advocates persuaded decision makers to completely overhaul the building. The rebuild, done by Alten Construction, is expected to cost about $61 million.

“This is more than just a groundbreaking ceremony. This is an act of justice, an act of equity, an act of race discrimination dismantled,” Jackson said. “Beloved community, this is the beginning. There is much work to do after the school is built. … The students are ready and capable. The whole classroom must be ready and capable.”

Generations of Stege Elementary School alum helped mark the major milestone. They cheered enthusiastically as current students and staff, who are using DeJean Middle School as a temporary home base, led the crowd through their school chant.

The vision for the future of Stege Elementary School is big. Jackson said she hopes to see it become a hub for science, technology, engineering, arts and math, a strong partnership with the Contra Costa Community College District, high attendance rates and staffing with qualified educators.

It’ll take a village to see that vision come true, Mitchell-Keith said, imploring the community to continue supporting Stege Elementary School educators, staff, administrators and families.

“Our children deserve every resource, every chance, every opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed,” Mitchell-Keith said. “Today marks a new day, and a new beginning for the students of Stege Elementary School and this community. But the work is not done until the ribbon is cut, and the school bell rings at 4949 Cypress Avenue.”