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Agenda Item
S.-3 19-2227 Approval 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'm a parent of an OSA sophomore. The sense of community that OSA creates and the spirit of creation that emanates from it is an invaluable resource to Oakland ; the cultural impact on that part of Oakland is really extraordinary. The school fosters an arts community that no other local schools do - generations of earnest, creative world changers are coming from there every year. My son's class in production design has an ongoing project of designing and building tiny houses for the homeless and that's just one part of the self aware, critical thinking that i am noticing they are teaching him. I am very happy with the academic side of the school and the arts portion is this incredible way for them to express themselves..even just attending the passionate meetings held by students about the future of the school impressed me with how much the students love it and care about it. The charter must absolutely be renewed and this school should become a permanent fixture.
In a recent episode of KQED's Rightnowish [https://www.kqed.org/arts/13870187/room-302-home-of-oaklands-own-tiny-desk] , Pendarvish Harshaw visited an OSA classroom and commented, "There's something special about this classroom. It speaks to a need being filled." His comment is true for teacher Cava Mezies's "Off the Table" classroom, but it also applies to the whole school.
I strongly support OSA's charter renewal. The program integrates arts and academics and for kids for whom art is integral to their identity. Other than Crowden for music, I believe there is no alternative academic institution in the Oakland-Berkeley area that can meet the needs of these middle and high school kids. OSA's unique program reaches kids who would struggle or get lost in other, more "standard" schools. Please look at the comments from so many parents here, of which I am one, incredulous and grateful for the growth of our children in the OSA program.
As a reply to an opposing commenter, the charter renewal application has a clear plan to adjust its enrollment process that addresses the concerns outlined in that comment.
In researching middle and high schools that offer a rigorous academic program and top-flight professional arts education, I have found nothing comparable to OSA. The school is a veritable beacon for young creatives, whether they land in the arts, business, law, social justice, tech, the sciences or beyond. With notable alumni including Kehlani, Ari'el Stachel, Zendaya, Tati Gabrielle and Kriesha Chu, among others, it's a point of pride for Oakland. Please renew our charter.
Please renew OSA. I have daughter who is in 6th grade, whose dream was to attend OSA and it became true with hard work and dedication.
I read an opposers comment and I must say that I disagree with the comments. My family is by no means “rich”. I consider ourselves poor. If OSA makes its fundraising goal, I would have to say that it’s because of the parents participation and interest in their kids passion.
My daughter has attended Title 1 schools before OSA and let me tell you that parent participation was always the same 4-5 moms that would take interest. Oh and the art that was available at her previous school was once a week and it was painting. Instruments were only offered to 5th and 6th graders once a week for 25 minutes.
Why would anyone not want to renew OSA? A place where kids can pursue their art?
To the opposer I have to say “Don’t hate”
Why would anyone want to take away a place where kids are learning and feel they have found their place?
I strongly support OSA's charter renewal. As a parent of a 7th grader in his second year at OSA, I have seen him grow, open up and flourish in ways that truly surprised me. The faculty truly cares about the students and, in addition to stellar arts instruction, the kids receive great academic instruction as well, and, perhaps most importantly, their sense of agency is being fostered. Though I don't agree that the audition process is discriminatory (Oakland residents get priority, and the Step it Up program addresses socioeconomic and racial disparity) I commend the OSA administration for working on a feasible solution to OUSD's request to eliminate auditions. Please renew our charter and keep this special school going!
Please renew our charter and let us continue transform lives as we are currently doing. We have proven to have a consistent record of accountability to artistic development and high academic success. This school is a safe place for our LGBTQ+ community. Community that is facing one of the biggest discrimination and bullying issues in other schools. They finally see a place where they can be themselves and grow to become successful scholars.
OSA has set a goal of fund raising and donations that totals over a million dollars and met that goal year after year. No other school in Oakland can match OSA in raising money. No other Oakland School public or charter has 2 Port billboards advertising revenue funding them or behested payments from want-a-be friends of Jerry Brown. Behested payment is when a politician asks his want-a-be friends to donate to his charter school. Since 2011 to the Present over $6 million was donated to Jerry's OSA in behested dollars.
OSA and Hillcrest have richest student enrollment in Oakland. Hillcrest poverty is 13.8%. OSA 9.5%. District poverty is 73.8% But, Hillcrest kills OSA in testing: above standard English 80.8 points to 36.9; Math 70 points to 3.6%.
OSA by using its audition preference keeps neighbor from dragging its scores down. District scores are on average below standard: English 47.2 points below; Math 70.9 points below.
My son is currently a 7th grade Digital Media student at OSA. I have been extremely impressed with the school administration, my son's teachers, and the progress my son has made since starting at OSA last year. He has had some challenges in the past focusing in the school setting, and OSA has been an excellent environment for him - providing him with the academic stimulation he needs in an environment that's friendly and welcoming to a kid whose perspective on things is often outside the mainstream. He looks forward to school in a way that's brand new for him, and quite the opposite of what I remember from my own middle school years. As a parent who knows that middle school can be a make-or-break time for students, I'm grateful that OSA is there for my son and all of the students who have found a home there. There's nothing my son wants more than to graduate from high school at OSA with his friends at his side and a couple of CTE certificates under his belt. Please renew OSA's charter.
I strongly support the renewal proposal for OSA's charter. OSA has been my child's home now for 6 years and they have thrived in this progressive and creative environment. They have found their tribe. The teachers are talented and caring and there is a strong parent community that is ready to work together with the board and OUSD for the continued positive growth of the school.
As a parent of a thriving 6th grader, I urge you to approve OSA's charter renewal proposal. My son is passionate about academics and theater and so far OSA has surpassed my expectation and provided us with a strong community and dedicated teachers. Just the fact that he lives going to school is amazing to me. Thank you for your consideration.
I am writing in support of Oakland School for the Arts petition for charter renewal. As a parent of one current and two graduated students, as well as a pediatrician in the community, I can strongly state that this school is an important resource providing educational opportunities and avenues for growth in all areas. Students at OSA thrive with the educational and artistic support provided by this school and I believe it is a treasure which should be supported in any way possible.
I'm a parent of an OSA sophomore. The sense of community that OSA creates and the spirit of creation that emanates from it is an invaluable resource to Oakland ; the cultural impact on that part of Oakland is really extraordinary. The school fosters an arts community that no other local schools do - generations of earnest, creative world changers are coming from there every year. My son's class in production design has an ongoing project of designing and building tiny houses for the homeless and that's just one part of the self aware, critical thinking that i am noticing they are teaching him. I am very happy with the academic side of the school and the arts portion is this incredible way for them to express themselves..even just attending the passionate meetings held by students about the future of the school impressed me with how much the students love it and care about it. The charter must absolutely be renewed and this school should become a permanent fixture.
Please renew OSA's charter.
In a recent episode of KQED's Rightnowish [https://www.kqed.org/arts/13870187/room-302-home-of-oaklands-own-tiny-desk] , Pendarvish Harshaw visited an OSA classroom and commented, "There's something special about this classroom. It speaks to a need being filled." His comment is true for teacher Cava Mezies's "Off the Table" classroom, but it also applies to the whole school.
I strongly support OSA's charter renewal. The program integrates arts and academics and for kids for whom art is integral to their identity. Other than Crowden for music, I believe there is no alternative academic institution in the Oakland-Berkeley area that can meet the needs of these middle and high school kids. OSA's unique program reaches kids who would struggle or get lost in other, more "standard" schools. Please look at the comments from so many parents here, of which I am one, incredulous and grateful for the growth of our children in the OSA program.
As a reply to an opposing commenter, the charter renewal application has a clear plan to adjust its enrollment process that addresses the concerns outlined in that comment.
Please vote to renew the OSA charter.
Please please renew!! This is a wonderful school for students to focus on their art form as well as the academics. This school needs to remain open!
Great school! Great dance department! One of a kind!
In researching middle and high schools that offer a rigorous academic program and top-flight professional arts education, I have found nothing comparable to OSA. The school is a veritable beacon for young creatives, whether they land in the arts, business, law, social justice, tech, the sciences or beyond. With notable alumni including Kehlani, Ari'el Stachel, Zendaya, Tati Gabrielle and Kriesha Chu, among others, it's a point of pride for Oakland. Please renew our charter.
Please renew OSA. I have daughter who is in 6th grade, whose dream was to attend OSA and it became true with hard work and dedication.
I read an opposers comment and I must say that I disagree with the comments. My family is by no means “rich”. I consider ourselves poor. If OSA makes its fundraising goal, I would have to say that it’s because of the parents participation and interest in their kids passion.
My daughter has attended Title 1 schools before OSA and let me tell you that parent participation was always the same 4-5 moms that would take interest. Oh and the art that was available at her previous school was once a week and it was painting. Instruments were only offered to 5th and 6th graders once a week for 25 minutes.
Why would anyone not want to renew OSA? A place where kids can pursue their art?
To the opposer I have to say “Don’t hate”
Why would anyone want to take away a place where kids are learning and feel they have found their place?
I strongly support OSA's charter renewal. As a parent of a 7th grader in his second year at OSA, I have seen him grow, open up and flourish in ways that truly surprised me. The faculty truly cares about the students and, in addition to stellar arts instruction, the kids receive great academic instruction as well, and, perhaps most importantly, their sense of agency is being fostered. Though I don't agree that the audition process is discriminatory (Oakland residents get priority, and the Step it Up program addresses socioeconomic and racial disparity) I commend the OSA administration for working on a feasible solution to OUSD's request to eliminate auditions. Please renew our charter and keep this special school going!
Please renew the charter for this amazing school.
Please renew our charter and let us continue transform lives as we are currently doing. We have proven to have a consistent record of accountability to artistic development and high academic success. This school is a safe place for our LGBTQ+ community. Community that is facing one of the biggest discrimination and bullying issues in other schools. They finally see a place where they can be themselves and grow to become successful scholars.
Vote for OSA's enrollment discrimination?
OSA has set a goal of fund raising and donations that totals over a million dollars and met that goal year after year. No other school in Oakland can match OSA in raising money. No other Oakland School public or charter has 2 Port billboards advertising revenue funding them or behested payments from want-a-be friends of Jerry Brown. Behested payment is when a politician asks his want-a-be friends to donate to his charter school. Since 2011 to the Present over $6 million was donated to Jerry's OSA in behested dollars.
OSA and Hillcrest have richest student enrollment in Oakland. Hillcrest poverty is 13.8%. OSA 9.5%. District poverty is 73.8% But, Hillcrest kills OSA in testing: above standard English 80.8 points to 36.9; Math 70 points to 3.6%.
OSA by using its audition preference keeps neighbor from dragging its scores down. District scores are on average below standard: English 47.2 points below; Math 70.9 points below.
My son is currently a 7th grade Digital Media student at OSA. I have been extremely impressed with the school administration, my son's teachers, and the progress my son has made since starting at OSA last year. He has had some challenges in the past focusing in the school setting, and OSA has been an excellent environment for him - providing him with the academic stimulation he needs in an environment that's friendly and welcoming to a kid whose perspective on things is often outside the mainstream. He looks forward to school in a way that's brand new for him, and quite the opposite of what I remember from my own middle school years. As a parent who knows that middle school can be a make-or-break time for students, I'm grateful that OSA is there for my son and all of the students who have found a home there. There's nothing my son wants more than to graduate from high school at OSA with his friends at his side and a couple of CTE certificates under his belt. Please renew OSA's charter.
I strongly support the renewal proposal for OSA's charter.
Please renew OSA’s charter. My son is receiving an excellent academic and music education.
Please renew OSA's charter! OSA is such a gem in the community!
Strongly support a critical school!
I strongly support the renewal proposal for OSA's charter. OSA has been my child's home now for 6 years and they have thrived in this progressive and creative environment. They have found their tribe. The teachers are talented and caring and there is a strong parent community that is ready to work together with the board and OUSD for the continued positive growth of the school.
Ive been an Art Educator for 30 and I support OSA. The teachers care a lot about the students and we have a thriving program.
As a parent of a thriving 6th grader, I urge you to approve OSA's charter renewal proposal. My son is passionate about academics and theater and so far OSA has surpassed my expectation and provided us with a strong community and dedicated teachers. Just the fact that he lives going to school is amazing to me. Thank you for your consideration.
I am writing in support of Oakland School for the Arts petition for charter renewal. As a parent of one current and two graduated students, as well as a pediatrician in the community, I can strongly state that this school is an important resource providing educational opportunities and avenues for growth in all areas. Students at OSA thrive with the educational and artistic support provided by this school and I believe it is a treasure which should be supported in any way possible.