Kennedy High School students may start the school year in another location because of toxic chemical plume

By Ahamad Fuwad | August 7, 2026 |
A baseball team in red jerseys are lined up on a bench with their backs to the camera, all looking at the wide open baseball diamond.

Kennedy High School students will begin their school year on schedule, with several backup locations under consideration while further testing for a toxic chemical on campus is conducted. Richmond’s Kennedy High School was closed on Monday after preliminary test results indicated levels of tetrachloroethylene, also known as PCE, underground. At a town hall meeting Thursday…

Read More

Update: Kennedy High students may start school year in temporary location after toxic chemical was found on campus

By Ahamad Fuwad | August 4, 2026 |
JOHN F. KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL sign, steel on pebbles.

West Contra Costa Unified School District is considering temporarily relocating Kennedy High School students after closing the campus Monday because a toxic chemical was detected in “underground vapors,” Superintendent Cheryl Cotton said Tuesday. School is on summer break and set to restart on Aug. 18. WCCUS will hold a town hall meeting with Richmond and…

Read More