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Agenda Item
C.-6 19-2227 8:30 PM - Public Hearing by the Board of Education of Oakland School for the Arts - Petition and Proposed Charter - Grades 6-12 - July 1, 2020-June 30, 2025 (Renewal).
I am strongly in support of OSA's charter renewal. My daughter is junior with a theater emphasis who transferred to OSA this August. In the 2.5 months we have been part of the school, we have seen tremendous growth in our daughter academically and artistically. She feels at home at OSA and has so many more opportunities to explore theater and acting where most high school have only a few courses. She remarks quite often at how excited she is to go to school! The dedication of faculty and staff to making OSA a place of creativity, collaboration and support is notable and has already impacted our daughter. Finally, as an owner of a business located only a few blocks from OSA, I see firsthand how OSA integrates into the Oakland community and how important the school and it's students are to the downtown area.
I support the charter renewal for OSA. My daughter has found a supportive community, passionate teachers, and a lively arts focus that she couldn't find elsewhere. I have been so impressed with the way OSA promotes self-expression, caring for one another, and engaging with social problems. The size of the school and the focus on arts allows for a level of support and dedication that makes all the difference in education, especially when there are so many obstacles, e.g. learning differences, lack of resources, etc.
As a parent of a Instrumental Music student who struggled in other schools, I firmly believe that OSA has been crucial to his success as a student both academically and artistically. OSA is a supportive environment that nurtures a student's interests and strengths, encourages curiosity, and inspires creativity. The teachers connect with the students, helping them not just to develop their skills, but also to build their self-confidence, compassion, and awareness. Our family wholeheartedly supports renewal of OSA's charter.
I support OSA's charter renewal. I am a parent of a Digital Media junior student who has been at OSA since freshman year. This sort of alternative education has really been a lifesaver for my older daughter who has been a dreamy artist type for as long as I can remember. At OSA, she is learning marketable skills that have already allowed her to score a paid digital media internship and small side jobs as an illustrator. I feel like her future is brighter thanks to OSA.
As a place of academic rigor, heartful community process, and artistic discovery, OSA has brought an immersive world of music to our two children, who are now not only listeners but performers and creators, sharing this gift with those around them and inspiring other young and old artists around the world. OSA turned a pastime into a resource, all while supporting our children in their academic, social, political, and humanitarian development as young, informed adults. We are so grateful for the growing garden which is OSA and strongly support the renewal of its charter.
I am a parent of a theater student who has been at OSA throughout middle school and is now a freshman. We are so grateful to have found a school where she can be nurtured as an artist and a scholar, surrounded by passionate enthusiasts, close friends, and nurturing teachers who have helped her blossom artistically and academically. My daughter has gained self-discipline, curiosity, and a sense of adventure through her artistic journey at OSA. This school is a vital contribution to our community and I hope its charter will be renewed.
I strongly support OSA's charter renewal. My child has had many challenges throughout their educational career. Anxiety, confidence, and difficulty focusing have been issues since Elementary School. But at OSA, my child has excelled. We could not be more proud of our 4.0 earning child. That only happens when caring teachers and faculty, both academic and artistic, are allowed to work in a supportive environment. Through music, my teen has built both the talent and confidence needed to help them thrive. I can't imagine what would happen if this wonderful opportunity were to go away. Please keep OSA a place where art creates the leaders of the future.
I support Oakland School for the Arts in their efforts to renew their charter. OSA has voted to remove the audition requirements from its charter going forward, and I am an OSA parent who supports this. OSA has a uniquely equipped staff of professional artists who are also committed teachers, who can nurture young talent regardless of a student's previous levels of training. I've seen firsthand a teacher's ability to gently push my young musician beyond their comfort level, and my child is now performing at a level they had not realized they were capable of. I am grateful for OSA. My child has seen possibilities and realizes now that the sky's the limit.
I am writing in support of renewing Oakland School for the Arts Charter. I am in full support of keeping the good schools in Oakland running and thriving. I am a parent of an OSA student who has blossomed over the last 3+ years here. For a long time, my student has struggled with being able to focus, struggled with anxiety and struggled with confidence. At OSA, my child has been supported by administration and by teachers in both academics and the arts. My teen has grown in confidence and maturity (there's still a way to go), they are making new friends and can't imagine going anywhere else. We need to focus on the needs of all students in both OUSD and charter schools. We need to focus on which schools are meeting the needs of our kids and which aren't. OSA is a success story. Let's not lose another good school.
To: Superintendent Dr. Kyla Trammell-Griffin & the OUSD Board of Directors
I am writing to you in support of renewing Oakland School for the Arts charter. I have been working at OSA for 16.5 years (halfway through its first year) and been a parent of a student since 2017.
In my many years at OSA I have seen people come and go but the focus has always been the same, to support the students in their academic, artistic, and social development. OSA has produced amazing results over the years and continues to do so. OSA strives to continually develop and improve its offer to the students, the Oakland community, and artistic enrichment of the Bay Area.
During their time at OSA, students thrive and develop into amazing individuals. Please allow OSA to continue providing excellent academic, artistic, and social development to current and future generations of students.
I am strongly in support of OSA's charter renewal. My daughter is junior with a theater emphasis who transferred to OSA this August. In the 2.5 months we have been part of the school, we have seen tremendous growth in our daughter academically and artistically. She feels at home at OSA and has so many more opportunities to explore theater and acting where most high school have only a few courses. She remarks quite often at how excited she is to go to school! The dedication of faculty and staff to making OSA a place of creativity, collaboration and support is notable and has already impacted our daughter. Finally, as an owner of a business located only a few blocks from OSA, I see firsthand how OSA integrates into the Oakland community and how important the school and it's students are to the downtown area.
I support the charter renewal for OSA. My daughter has found a supportive community, passionate teachers, and a lively arts focus that she couldn't find elsewhere. I have been so impressed with the way OSA promotes self-expression, caring for one another, and engaging with social problems. The size of the school and the focus on arts allows for a level of support and dedication that makes all the difference in education, especially when there are so many obstacles, e.g. learning differences, lack of resources, etc.
As a parent of a Instrumental Music student who struggled in other schools, I firmly believe that OSA has been crucial to his success as a student both academically and artistically. OSA is a supportive environment that nurtures a student's interests and strengths, encourages curiosity, and inspires creativity. The teachers connect with the students, helping them not just to develop their skills, but also to build their self-confidence, compassion, and awareness. Our family wholeheartedly supports renewal of OSA's charter.
I support OSA's charter renewal. I am a parent of a Digital Media junior student who has been at OSA since freshman year. This sort of alternative education has really been a lifesaver for my older daughter who has been a dreamy artist type for as long as I can remember. At OSA, she is learning marketable skills that have already allowed her to score a paid digital media internship and small side jobs as an illustrator. I feel like her future is brighter thanks to OSA.
As a place of academic rigor, heartful community process, and artistic discovery, OSA has brought an immersive world of music to our two children, who are now not only listeners but performers and creators, sharing this gift with those around them and inspiring other young and old artists around the world. OSA turned a pastime into a resource, all while supporting our children in their academic, social, political, and humanitarian development as young, informed adults. We are so grateful for the growing garden which is OSA and strongly support the renewal of its charter.
Sincerely,
Brenton Cheng & Terese Gjernes
I am a parent of a theater student who has been at OSA throughout middle school and is now a freshman. We are so grateful to have found a school where she can be nurtured as an artist and a scholar, surrounded by passionate enthusiasts, close friends, and nurturing teachers who have helped her blossom artistically and academically. My daughter has gained self-discipline, curiosity, and a sense of adventure through her artistic journey at OSA. This school is a vital contribution to our community and I hope its charter will be renewed.
I strongly support OSA's charter renewal. My child has had many challenges throughout their educational career. Anxiety, confidence, and difficulty focusing have been issues since Elementary School. But at OSA, my child has excelled. We could not be more proud of our 4.0 earning child. That only happens when caring teachers and faculty, both academic and artistic, are allowed to work in a supportive environment. Through music, my teen has built both the talent and confidence needed to help them thrive. I can't imagine what would happen if this wonderful opportunity were to go away. Please keep OSA a place where art creates the leaders of the future.
I support Oakland School for the Arts in their efforts to renew their charter. OSA has voted to remove the audition requirements from its charter going forward, and I am an OSA parent who supports this. OSA has a uniquely equipped staff of professional artists who are also committed teachers, who can nurture young talent regardless of a student's previous levels of training. I've seen firsthand a teacher's ability to gently push my young musician beyond their comfort level, and my child is now performing at a level they had not realized they were capable of. I am grateful for OSA. My child has seen possibilities and realizes now that the sky's the limit.
I am writing in support of renewing Oakland School for the Arts Charter. I am in full support of keeping the good schools in Oakland running and thriving. I am a parent of an OSA student who has blossomed over the last 3+ years here. For a long time, my student has struggled with being able to focus, struggled with anxiety and struggled with confidence. At OSA, my child has been supported by administration and by teachers in both academics and the arts. My teen has grown in confidence and maturity (there's still a way to go), they are making new friends and can't imagine going anywhere else. We need to focus on the needs of all students in both OUSD and charter schools. We need to focus on which schools are meeting the needs of our kids and which aren't. OSA is a success story. Let's not lose another good school.
Thank you,
Margaret Schultz
To: Superintendent Dr. Kyla Trammell-Griffin & the OUSD Board of Directors
I am writing to you in support of renewing Oakland School for the Arts charter. I have been working at OSA for 16.5 years (halfway through its first year) and been a parent of a student since 2017.
In my many years at OSA I have seen people come and go but the focus has always been the same, to support the students in their academic, artistic, and social development. OSA has produced amazing results over the years and continues to do so. OSA strives to continually develop and improve its offer to the students, the Oakland community, and artistic enrichment of the Bay Area.
During their time at OSA, students thrive and develop into amazing individuals. Please allow OSA to continue providing excellent academic, artistic, and social development to current and future generations of students.
Sincerely,
David Smith