Pleasant Hill, Calif. — The Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE) announced its intent to acquire the broadcast license for KVHS 90.5 FM from the Mt. Diablo Unified School District (MDUSD), marking a new chapter for the noncommercial educational FM station.
KVHS has served the central Contra Costa County community since its founding at Clayton Valley High School in 1966.
“KVHS has a rich legacy of serving the local community and empowering young people through radio, and we are excited to be part of the next chapter in that legacy,” Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey said.
Last week, the MDUSD Board of Education unanimously approved a purchase agreement to transfer the KVHS license to CCCOE for $1.
“We are thrilled to work with the Contra Costa County Office of Education on preserving the radio station,” MDUSD Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark said. “The station is in good hands.”
The transfer is pending approval by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), a process that typically takes approximately three months. In the meantime, CCCOE is working to secure a temporary home for the station’s antenna and will apply for a Special Temporary Authority (STA) from the FCC to resume over-the-air broadcasting.
Until the antenna is relocated and the STA is approved, KVHS will continue to broadcast online at kvhs.com, ensuring continued access to community content.
KVHS started as a project at Clayton Valley High School more than 50 years ago and has undergone significant change since it first began broadcasting. The initiative aligns with CCCOE’s broader goals of expanding career technical education (CTE) pathways and ensuring equitable access to innovative learning experiences across the county.
As a community supported station, KVHS can accept donations to help support operations. Donations can be accepted at https://donorbox.org/support-kvhs-radio-station.
About Contra Costa County Office of Education
One of 58 counties in California, Contra Costa County has the 11th largest public-school student population in the state (approximately 169,394 students). Officially established in 1932, CCCOE has a long history of providing direct services to some of our county’s most vulnerable students, including young people who are incarcerated, homeless, or in foster care, as well as students who have severe physical or emotional challenges.
CCCOE also provides support services to schools and school districts in Contra Costa County; services that can be handled most effectively and economically on a regional basis rather than by each of the county’s 287 schools or 18 school districts. These services range from budget approval and fiscal support to technology infrastructure, communication support, and high-level professional development opportunities for educators. CCCOE maintains a website at www.cocoschools.org.
