Oakland Unified School District, California February 8, 2022 / 1:34 PM / CBS San Francisco OAKLAND (BCN) -- Opponents of a plan to close and merge several schools in the Oakland Unified School District want school board members. Furthermore, the report is oversimplified in both its definition of the issues and recommended solutions, said CCSA spokeswoman Emily Bertelli. Board members dedicate about 20 hours per week to their school board work, which also includes attending committee meetings, responding to emails, and meeting with constituents. } Antwan Wilson was the superintendent of the Oakland Unified School District from 2014 to 2017. Members of the Oakland Unified School District school board are elected to four-year terms. Ashley McBride writes about education equity for The Oaklandside. May 02, 2022 03:23 PM A member of the Oakland, California, school board blasted the actions of the local teachers union in a blistering Monday letter announcing her resignation from the. Members of the public are encouraged to attend Board meetings and to address the Board concerning any item on the agenda or, at regular meetings, a matter within the Board's jurisdiction. School board director Yee points to the George Floyd Resolution to Eliminate the Oakland Schools Police Department, that the board of education approved in June, as an example of the policymaking process at work. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. OAKLAND (BCN) - School closures in Oakland could be avoided thanks to a bill introduced Wednesday in the state Assembly. The 11 Oakland Unified schools were included in a list of 253 charter schools flagged for discriminatory practices across California. They do this by creating policies, adopting a budget, overseeing the superintendent, and engaging with the community. But, Gonzales said in her letter, the board has not been entirely successful, either. ), What issues do Oaklanders want City Council candidates to address in their neighborhoods? Four Troy school board members targeted for recall .partytd.Green { One of the biggest responsibilities of board members is evaluating the superintendent, and if Johnson-Trammell stays through the end of her contract, she will be OUSDs longest-serving chief in decades. She said the district follows the state education code when reviewing charter school applications. Were looking for a candidate who has longstanding and deep connections with the community, Hutchinson, who is also the boards current president, said in an interview. In a letter posted to her website Monday, Gonzales criticized the board for not staying focused on meeting students academic needs and denounced the teachers union and allies for what she described as a resistance to improving school quality and a hostile effort to silence those with whom they disagree. OAKLAND A man known as a fearless advocate for equity in local schools was fatally shot and his wife wounded late Friday night in a home-invasion robbery at their Maxwell Park home in East. Ashley earned her masters degree in journalism from Syracuse University. The Board need not allow the public to speak on any item that has already been considered by a committee composed exclusively of Board members at a public meeting where the public had the opportunity to address the committee on that item. Gonzales said, too, that critics of the board had contacted her employer to ask that I be condemned for supporting school closures and vandalized other board members homes, cut internet cables during the board meetings, denounced a board member during their church service as Black Judas and distributed fliers calling the board members racists. You cant just close them now because it doesnt make sense financially to do that, when you havent proven that closing them makes a difference, Brouhard said. That is always the first line, that we need to close a school, Brouhard said. Wilson's previous career experience included working as the assistant superintendent for post-secondary readiness of. Public comment will be taken on each item of new or unfinished business prior to the Board's vote on any such item. Each year, state and local education agencies use tests and other standards to assess student proficiency. We amplify community voices, share the power of real information, and investigate systems, not just symptoms. The election, ordered this week by Alameda County education officials, will fill the school boards seat in District 5, an area south of I-580 that spans parts of East Oakland, including Fremont High School and the Fruitvale neighborhood. Attorney Elisabeth Lambert wrote a letter to the Wisconsin Department of Justice seeking a court order to turn over records related to Hartland-Lakeside School Board member conduct. (Government Code 54954.3) In addition, the Board may not prohibit public criticism of district employees. Two Oakland parents launched an organizing effort yesterday to recall three Oakland school board members in another sign of the . A veteran educator, Brouhard retired from teaching this year after more than 30 years, mainly in Oakland Unified School District, as well as a few years in Berkeley. Take a look at a list of. CCSA filed the lawsuit in March 2016 in order to require the district to align with Proposition 39, a law that was passed in 2000 to ensure that public school facilities were shared equitably among all public school students, including public charter school students. OAKLAND, CA: JANUARY 28: Oakland Unified School District board members Shanthi Gonzales, Judy London, board president Aimee Eng, and OUSD Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell, from. Oakland school board member resigns, blasts failure to meet students OUSD is required to share space with charters, but community members Cities | Then, a few months later, George Floyd was killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis, setting off global protests and intense scrutiny of American policing. I still consider myself a teacher first. I supported the strike through and through, Ritzie-Hernandez said in an interview, and I spent a lot of time mobilizing parents to support the strike as well.. Here's why. To my knowledge, they have not condemned any of the recent acts of intimidation toward board members, which is a sign of tacit approval, Gonzales said of the unions response to the harassment of board members. When youre a board member, you have no power. She also argued the district could increase the quality of its schools by focusing resources on fewer facilities. Her work covers Oaklands public district and charter schools. Gary Yee was the superintendent of the Oakland Unified School District from 2013 to 2014. Current board president London, who is not running for reelection this year, said she started hosting office hours at coffee shops in her district a few years ago to meet with her constituents on Saturday afternoons to hear their concerns. Another one of Brouhards priorities is reparations for Black students, which the OUSD board supported in a resolution passed in March 2021. We continue to work with the school district and the vendors to modify systems to support youth voting, Dupuis said in a text message response to multiple interview requests. Now the school board is again casting scrutiny on county Registrar of Voters Tim Dupuis, who still hasnt yet implemented a 2020 ballot measure allowing residents as young as 16 years to vote in school board elections. It just doesnt work like that, said McDonald, who is also a former OUSD teacher and administrator. 2. If we passed a resolution in the aftermath of a teacher strike, talking about school closures, and that articulates a process or a sentiment or direction, and then spinning on a dime and just disregarding that that brings a tremendous amount of distrust, Kakishiba said, referring to a resolution at the center of a one-day unfair labor practices strike that OEA held earlier this year. CCSA has corresponded extensively with OUSD, putting it on detailed notice of its extensive violations of the law," said CCSA President and CEO Jed Wallace when the lawsuit was filed. OAKLAND A video circulating social media shows Oakland school board member Jumoke Hinton-Hodge trying to push past a crowd of picketing teachers and putting a hand on the throat of a. Its about listening carefully to the community and working with colleagues to make those changes.. The ACLU report grouped the discriminatory admissions practices into five categories: Schools could be put into multiple categories if researchers found multiple types of discriminatory practices. 39 tactics by OUSD create insurmountable barriers and we felt we had no alternative but to take action on behalf of Oakland students and families. At La Escuelita, 24% of the students who would have attended middle school there, enrolled outside of the district. 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} Voters cast ballots for the people they believe will carry out their campaign promises of radically making things better for Oakland students and families. For the 2018-2019 school year, the last pre-pandemic testing year, 33% of OUSD students met or exceeded grade-level standards in reading on the Smarter Balanced Assessments, the states standardized tests, compared with 51% of students across the state. Its not all about you. Ask Amy: What if grandma finds out where I've sent the kids? 7. Oakland teachers, parents, students and some community members have rallied and marched including at the homes of board members, protested at school board meetings and in the case of two educators, and launched days-long hunger strikes. It is just a very steep learning curve and you need somebody with a strong grounding of needs across the district and a good understanding or commitment to learning the districts finances and plan.. Election 2022: Meet the Oakland school board candidates for D2 That service was always focused on building a better, more sustainable, more inclusive system of quality schools dedicated to the success of every student, no matter the personal and political costs.. background-color: #003388; Gonzales, in her letter, slammed the Oakland Education Association the union that represents teachers and other educators in Oakland for its position and reasserted the need to consolidate schools, writing, The OEAs long-standing resistance to operating fewer schools (including last weeks strike) is a large factor in why we have the lowest salaries in the county and struggle to attract and retain quality teachers and staff. President. We as a body have to uphold our own collective integrity to the public.. You go to all these different candidate interviews and candidate forums and rarely does anybody talk about the fact that more than two-thirds of our young people are not reading at grade level, Kakishiba said. background-color: #fdd007; She criticized the board for spending way too much time on issues that (while important) dont have much to do with how students are doing academically., Oakland has some of the most generous taxpayers in the state, and we receive more funds per student than most districts, Gonzales said in her closing words. The Black Organizing Project, an Oakland group working towards racial justice, had been pressuring OUSD for nearly 10 years to eliminate its campus police department. As a teacher, and as a special education teacher, I know that when youve found a strategy that works for a kid, you let them practice that same strategy over and over and over again, until it becomes just second nature to them. The D2 candidates are all parents, and include a long-time educator, and a former school board member. The Student Program Board is also online at Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram. And it has to look at this 10 years out and 20 years outits not just about next year, he said. Nine candidates are vying for three seats on the Oakland Unified school board in districts 2, 4, and 6. by Ashley McBride August 19, 2022. A kid could literally have three or four different programs throughout their entire time in OUSD.. What does the community believe is the role of public education?. Oakland school board member Shanthi Gonzales resigns amid controversy OAKLAND An election to fill a vacant seat on the politically divided Oakland school board this November could establish a crucial swing vote on intensely fought-over issues such as school closures and labor contracts. | We hope the next director will listen to, and keep their commitments to District 6 students and families rather than closing their schools, he continued. Even though were working on it, it makes it tougher to connect, she said. text-align: center; To create policies that are responsive to students and teachers, its imperative that board members are engaged with their school communities, during meetings and outside of them, said Jongco, the District 2 parent. Facebook. Losing those students, said Brouhard, means less money for all of the districts schools. text-align: center; The election, meanwhile, would be the first since last Novembers catastrophic District 4 race, which Hutchinson won in a legal battle after Alameda County officials admitted they had mistakenly declared another candidate as the winner. He said students who planned to attend a community college, a private college, or an out-of-state college would not be affected. Annie Sciacca is a correspondent for the Bay Area News Group. It also helps your family, friends and Oakland neighbors have access to reliable, independent reporting. Does the community believe that the superintendent is moving in the right direction? Yee said about what residents should weigh when casting their votes. A salary schedule is a list of expected compensations based on variables such as position, years employed, and education level. And were not really recognizing that our academic achievement and other social outcomes are far from satisfactory. Some of the most contentious decisions in recent years have concerned the budgetschool closures, leasing out district property, and cuts that led to layoffs. The reporters and editors on The Oaklandside are dedicated to sharing the mic, reporting on systems, not symptoms, and providing you with the information you need to be an informed resident of our city. State legislature | But the opposition to the plan, which was approved by the board in February, has been intense. Your power is with the collective. In fact, people should be angry about it.. Only contested races, with more. From creating policies to adopting budgets, heres what they doand donthave the power to do. Oakland school board member quits after conflict-of-interest ruling We have to stop the school closures, Orozco told The Oaklandside. Kakishiba came to the East Bay when he was 20 years old and has spent most of his adulthood working with EBAYC, previously the East Bay Asian Youth Center, where Kakishiba is currently the executive director. She taught seventh and eighth-grade humanities at La Escuelita last year, its final year serving middle schoolers. Four school board membersAimee Eng, Shanthi Gonzales, Sam Davis, and Gary Yeesupported the plan. OAKLAND, CA - FEBRUARY 9: Oakland Unified School District board member Mike Hutchinson, who voted against the Oakland school closures, speaks in a press conference at Oakland City. 1000 Broadway How to vote | Three or four seats are up for election on a staggered basis every even-numbered year in November. U.S. Congress | To address declining enrollment, Orozco believes the district should make sure that all schools have resources like arts programs, staffed libraries, and computers. The district, he added, lacks a cohesive plan for school reorganization that takes into account facilities, attendance boundaries, enrollment policies, and racial and social integration. Oakland school board member who supported school closures slams What do Oakland school board members do, exactly? Three school board members could lose their jobs in part over their handling of the pandemic. Yee, Gonzales colleague on the board and the current board president, expressed a very different sentiment. The true winner of the race was apparently Mike Hutchinson, who currently holds the District 5 seat on the Oakland school board. Although OUSD has closed schools before, Orozco said this years closures spurred him to action because his community would be affected. .partytd.Democratic { Ballotpedia features 410,256 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. After six years of state control, or receivership, under three different appointed administrators, the district came back under local control in 2009. Five more schools will close next year: Brookfield, Carl B. Munck, Grass Valley, Horace Mann, and Korematsu Discovery Academy. Whoever fills the seat may either cement or erode the growing political power of the Oakland Unified School District teachers union. The incumbent, Aimee Eng, is stepping down after 8 years. Oakland school board votes to close seven schools over the next two years Oakland school board member blasts teachers union in angry - MSN Oakland school board member blasts teachers union in angry resignation The matter may be placed on the agenda of a subsequent meeting for action or discussion by the Board. Welcome / Welcome / Meet the Board - Oakland Unified School District } Education Equity Oakland Unified's board meeting disrupted by families urging more COVID safety precautions at schools At the first school board meeting of the academic year, community members reacted angrily to a discussion about the superintendent's pay, and complained about the district's distance learning program. | From creating policies to adopting budgets, here's what they doand don'thave the power to do. Ballot measures, Who represents me? [25] Sasaki, however, said, "We have been assured by the UC system that it should not adversely affect these students.[26], The Western Association of Schools and Colleges voted on Madison Parks accreditation application in December 2016, but the district announced that it had received early word that the school would receive full accreditation in October 2016. During the years in state receivership, the school board had more of an advisory role than governing, said Yee, who was also elected to serve on the board from 2002 to 2013. In a survey earlier this year, 54% of OUSD teachers said their salaries make them want to leave the district, compared with 20% of OUSD central office staff, 40% of principals, and 35% of school support staff who said the same. Phone: 510-879-8000. if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; What's on my ballot? Oakland school board members to discuss consolidating schools "We do have to acknowledge that our students deserve better, that they do deserve more resources at their schools. Thank you for supporting The Oaklandside and being a part of our community. The Oakland Unified Board of Education consists of seven members elected to four-year terms. Election error could flip Oakland school board race to third-place Yee's previous career experience included working as the vice chancellor of the Peralta Community College District and dean of instruction at Merritt College. Diane Wenninger, MSA, BSN, RN, VP, Patient Care Services, Chief Nursing Officer, McLaren Oakland Hospital; EMERITUS BOARD MEMBERS; Maggie Allesee, MS, Counselor London also said she did not believe enough signatures would be gathered to mount the recall. Education | The Board may remove disruptive individuals and order the room cleared if necessary; in this case, members of the media not participating in the disturbance shall be allowed to remain, and individual(s) not participating in such disturbances may be allowed to remain at the discretion of the Board. Parker K-8 and Community Day, an alternative school for students who are expelled from traditional OUSD schools, closed this year. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! One seat on the Oakland Unified School District school board in California is up for special election on November 7, 2023. Swarm of Milpitas students take home awards from National Bees As a result, proficiency levels are not comparable between different states and year-over-year proficiency levels within a district may not be comparable because states may change their proficiency measurements. The board could go either way, and its a really critical election.. U.S. President | } You have to be able to build those relationships with other board members and have the vision.. Tell us. A donation to The Oaklandside goes beyond the newsroom. I will miss Shanthis dedication, courage, and effectiveness as a colleague and leader on the school board, Yee wrote in a memo regarding her resignation. ), What are the school issues residents want addressed? School board elections The Oakland Unified School District school board consists of seven members elected by district to four-year terms. Voters in the district will elect three of them in the Nov. 8 election. Persistent disruption by an individual or group shall be grounds for the chair to terminate the privilege of addressing the Board. } Attorney seeks records of Hartland-Lakeside school board conduct In fact, I think its caused more disruption and more of our students are leaving the district.. State and local courts | Oakland Unified School District, California, 2017: Superintendent announces plan to leave, 2016: CCSA and OUSD agree to stay Proposition 39 lawsuit, 2016: Oakland Unified charter schools listed in ACLU discrimination report, 2016: Grand jury report calls for better management of district's charter schools, Oakland Unified Board of Education District 1, Oakland Unified Board of Education District 2, Oakland Unified Board of Education District 3, Oakland Unified Board of Education District 4, Oakland Unified Board of Education District 5, Oakland Unified Board of Education District 6, Oakland Unified Board of Education District 7, Oakland Unified School District school board, Jody London recall, Oakland Unified School District, California (2020), 2017: Superintendent announces plan to leave (click to expand), 2016: CCSA and OUSD agree to stay Proposition 39 lawsuit (click to expand), 2016: School lacks accreditation (click to expand), 2016: Oakland Unified charter schools listed in ACLU discrimination report (click to expand), 2016: Grand jury report calls for better management of district's charter schools (click to expand), United States school shootings, 1990-present, List of the largest school districts in California, https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Oakland_Unified_School_District,_California&oldid=9151491, Pages using DynamicPageList3 dplreplace parser function, Nonpartisan school districts in California, Largest school districts (by enrollment) in California, School districts in Alameda County, California, contact our editorial staff or report an error, Conflicts in school board elections, 2021-2022, Environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) policy, Special Congressional elections (2023-2024), 2022 Congressional Competitiveness Report, State Executive Competitiveness Report, 2022, State Legislative Competitiveness Report, 2022, Partisanship in 2022 United States local elections.