In Marin County, one of the wealthiest places in the country, you’d think every child would feel seen, supported and celebrated in school. But for decades, that hasn’t been the case, especially for Black students.

From Mill Valley to Novato, from San Rafael to Marin City, the story has been painfully familiar: Unequal disparities and school environments don’t reflect the cultures and histories of the kids who walk through the doors.

This didn’t start yesterday. Back in the 1940s, thousands of Black families came to Marin City to work at the Marinship shipyards during World War II. They built ships and forged a strong sense of community, though they were shut out of labor unions and denied fair access to housing.

In 1944, the California Supreme Court case of James v. Marinship banned racial discrimination in unions, marking a legal victory. From the 1950s through the mid-2000s, Black students in Marin City received quality education from committed teachers and staff who nurtured academic growth. It’s only in more recent years that the same issues of longstanding disparities have come back even stronger, forcing us to confront the gaps that persist today.

By the 1960s, Tamalpais High School was already confronting racial tensions. In 1967, after a race-related incident in the school library, students organized “Operation Breakthrough,” a day of dialogue and healing. That same year, the district launched “Project Breakthrough,” a federally funded program to support Black students with tutoring, counseling and cultural enrichment. Its impact extended beyond that through ongoing student support and community engagement efforts.

Fast forward to today: We’re still having the same conversations. I think we are still making the same mistakes.

Last month, the Tamalpais Union High School District Board of Trustees voted 3-2 to eliminate the contracts of two consultants who led the Black Student Success Team and operated “The Hub,” a safe space and academic support center for Black and mixed-race students.

While some debate continues around funding and contracts, it’s important that we don’t lose sight of what’s truly at stake. If we truly want Black students to succeed at Tam High, we have to include the Sausalito Marin City School District in the conversation. These students don’t arrive in isolation, they come from a community shaped by a school system that has faced real challenges. Supporting their success means recognizing that history and building solutions together.

It’s time for state Superintendent Tony Thurmond, who leads a statewide Black student achievement initiative, to take a closer look at what’s happening in Marin. This is not just a local issue. It’s a statewide concern.

At Tam High, there are programs doing the quiet, consistent work of helping Black students feel seen and supported. Some of the programs included are titled “Wise Choices for Girls,” “The Hannah Project” and “Bridge the Gap College Prep.” They don’t just help Black students. They support Latino, Asian, Indigenous and mixed-race students who are also navigating our school systems. If we are honest about Marin history, I think we all know that these systems weren’t built with them in mind.

When schools make space for different cultures, it helps everyone. Classrooms that welcome many backgrounds help kids connect with each other instead of being divided.

Our students deserve better — and it’s on us to deliver.

Despite this ongoing controversy, the Black Student Success Center at Tam High must not only remain open but grow even more vibrant. This isn’t the time to scale back, it’s the time to invest deeper. With district support and strong community ties, as well as both trusted and innovative leadership models, The Hub should continue to serve as a safe, empowering space where Black students thrive.

What’s happening at Tam High is a reminder that meaningful change is possible. The fight for equity isn’t just Tam’s story, it reflects a larger need across all of Marin County. Our Black students deserve spaces where they feel valued, understood and uplifted. It’s time for every district to take a hard look at how they’re meeting the needs of Black students, and to commit to doing better — not just in words, but in action.

Felecia Gaston, of Marin City, is the founder and executive director of Performing Stars and the Phoenix Project, a nonprofit dedicated to community enrichment. She is also the founder of the Marin City Historical and Preservation Society.