I.-1 20-1335 Adoption by the Board of Education of Resolution No. 1920-0260 - George Floyd Resolution to Eliminate the Oakland Schools Police Department.
My name is Shannon Carey, and I’ve been teaching in OUSD since 1992. I am calling on the board to pass the George Floyd Resolution, as written. In my 28 years in Oakland public schools, my students have never needed the support of school police. What they have needed is the support of counselors, social workers, restorative justice practitioners. They need smaller class sizes, vibrant arts and athletics programs, and caring, experienced teachers. I was proud to stand with Oakland Unified when we declared ourselves a sanctuary district for migrant youth and their families; it is time to be a sanctuary district for Black youth and families by eliminating Oakland school police.
I support the George Floyd Resolution. Teachers and families have spoken overwhelmingly in favor of this resolution. The time to eliminate school police is NOW. OUSD Police do not serve our students and their funding should be redirected to restorative justice, mental health and other social services.
I am an Oakland resident and an Oakland Tech alumni and I am in favor of the George Floyd Resolution! The police do not protect our community and certainly do not belong in our schools.
I am a social worker and have worked in the Oakland schools for two years. I strongly support this resolution. we need our schools to be safe spaces for our students of color.
End the school to prison pipeline. Support the George Floyd resolution with no amendments. Invest in proven restorative justice practices, therapists and education instead of policing our students.
Hello, I am a resident, taxpayer, and voter in Oakland in District 2, and I stand in solidarity with the students of OUSD in urging the board to pass the George Floyd Resolution. Students deserve to feel safe and supported at school, and the presence of police on school campuses creates a hostile school climate for students of color and fuels the school to prison pipeline. I support the George Floyd Resolution to eliminate the Oakland School Police Department and remove sworn officers from campus. The funding previously used for school police officers could be much better utilized by being reallocated to school-based social workers, psychologists, restorative justice practitioners, and other mental or behavioral health professionals to truly support students and address their needs.
I am a teacher at Glenview Elementary School demanding justice for our Black students. I implore you to pass the George Floyd Resolution in order to promote the safety, wellbeing, and life of our students. I implore you to be leaders in an age where leadership is determined by how much money and power you hold and not by leadership grounded in integrity, justice, and equity. I implore you make the first (of many) steps in the direction of dismantling the school to prison pipeline system. Defund the police; fund our kids and their future.
Equity Allies stands with Black Organizing Project and support the People’s Plan for Police Free Schools and the George Floyd Resolution as is, with no amendments. We ask you to vote in favor of the resolution to eliminate the OUSD School Police Department. As per the People’s Plan, we must:
Divest from School Policing by Eliminating the Oakland School Police Department by 2020 and Barring any Future Contracts with Law Enforcement
Reorganize the Campus Safety and Security Program Under the Department of Equity or Behavioral Health and Restructure the Role of Security Personnel to Become Mentors and Peace/Culture Keepers
Reinvest $2.3m+ OSPD Budget into Hiring Additional School Mental & Behavioral Health and Special Education Staff
Establish a Community Oversight Committee to Review and Redress all Student and Family Complaints Regarding Interactions with Law Enforcement or School Security Personnel.
Signed,
Equity Allies for OUSD
I firmly support the resolution to remove police from Oakland schools. The money devoted to the police is better used for other programs to support our schools. We need more restorative justice education, we need more health, safety, support, both for the physical and emotional safety of all of our students, specifically Black and Brown ones who attend underfunded OUSD schools. Having police in our schools is traumatizing and a complete waste of resources.
I work in Oakland and I support this resolution to eliminate the Oakland Schools Police Department. Having the police on a school campus is unnecessary and only exacerbates the school to prison pipeline. I hope you strongly consider this resolution. Thank you.
I support the resolution. No other school district in Alameda County pays for police in the schools. Equity demands we utilize other resources to keep our schools safe for all students.
DEFUND THE POLICE! Get them out of the schools they are CHILDREN NOT CRIMINALS! POLICE SHOULD BE SERVING THE COMMUNITY NOT LOCKING UP CHILDREN! USE THE MONEY TO PAY BETTER TEACHERS! Use the money for TEXT BOOKS! USE THE MONEY FOR HEALTHY MEALS! USE THE MONEY FOR ON CAMPUS NURSES OR THERAPIST! USE THE MONEY TO FUND COLLEGE VISITS! Use the money TO FUND THE ARTS & DEBATE TEAMS! Get those officers out of these schools IMMEDIATELY! In no way is this an effective use OF MY TAX DOLLARS! MAYBE USE THE MONEY TO HELP KIDS GET TO & from school safely! Maybe use the money to provide care packages to students! Use the money to HIRE TUTORS FOR THESE KIDS IN CLASSES!!! Anything but keeping these officers in these schools! MORE MONEY SPENT ON MENTAL HEALTH, SEX EDUCATION, HIGHER EDUCATION NOT ANOTHER POLICE OFFICER
In this historic moment, it is imperative that we find new ways of being in our community. We need to get police out of schools and invest in counseling, particularly trauma-based counseling and emotional intelligence training for our children. Thank you, Marianne Manilov
My name is Cecilia Bermudez. I’m a law clerk with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights in San Francisco. I’m calling on behalf of LCCR to support the George Floyd Resolution.
Research and history have shown that OUSD has a long record of disproportionately suspending, expelling, involuntary transferring and arresting Black students in the name of safety. Many students who are currently criminalized at schools have mental health needs, behavioral health needs, or disabilities that are too costly for schools to take on. Over policing is a costly system that diminishes educational success and fails to guarantee safety in schools.
Specifically, over-policing leads to the criminalization of youth, a higher dropout rate among students of color, exacerbates the cycle of poverty, and negatively impacts the health of Black and Brown communities. Eliminating OPD and redistributing those funds on students and teachers would do more for the community than policing ever could.
I am an OUSD educator and I support the George Floyd Resolution to eliminate the OSPD from OUSD. Police contribute to systemic racism and violence, and schools should be safe spaces for learning and growth. We have an opportunity to reflect now on how we can best live up to OUSD’s values of equity, sanctuary, and putting students first. Our schools are under-resourced and our students are over-policed. Fund counselors, not cops. Fund restorative justice staff, not cops. Fund social workers, not cops. Vote to implement the plan now, as-is.
As a graduate of OUSD, I’ve witnessed firsthand how police and punishment has been weaponized against Black students in particular, while these students are consistently underresourced. Defund OUSD and put this money back into the community.
My name is Shannon Carey, and I’ve been teaching in OUSD since 1992. I am calling on the board to pass the George Floyd Resolution, as written. In my 28 years in Oakland public schools, my students have never needed the support of school police. What they have needed is the support of counselors, social workers, restorative justice practitioners. They need smaller class sizes, vibrant arts and athletics programs, and caring, experienced teachers. I was proud to stand with Oakland Unified when we declared ourselves a sanctuary district for migrant youth and their families; it is time to be a sanctuary district for Black youth and families by eliminating Oakland school police.
PASS THE GEORGE FLOYD RESOLUTION NO AMENDMENTS!!!!
I support the George Floyd Resolution. Teachers and families have spoken overwhelmingly in favor of this resolution. The time to eliminate school police is NOW. OUSD Police do not serve our students and their funding should be redirected to restorative justice, mental health and other social services.
I am an Oakland resident and an Oakland Tech alumni and I am in favor of the George Floyd Resolution! The police do not protect our community and certainly do not belong in our schools.
I support the George Floyd Resolution!
I am a social worker and have worked in the Oakland schools for two years. I strongly support this resolution. we need our schools to be safe spaces for our students of color.
End the school to prison pipeline. Support the George Floyd resolution with no amendments. Invest in proven restorative justice practices, therapists and education instead of policing our students.
Hello, I am a resident, taxpayer, and voter in Oakland in District 2, and I stand in solidarity with the students of OUSD in urging the board to pass the George Floyd Resolution. Students deserve to feel safe and supported at school, and the presence of police on school campuses creates a hostile school climate for students of color and fuels the school to prison pipeline. I support the George Floyd Resolution to eliminate the Oakland School Police Department and remove sworn officers from campus. The funding previously used for school police officers could be much better utilized by being reallocated to school-based social workers, psychologists, restorative justice practitioners, and other mental or behavioral health professionals to truly support students and address their needs.
I am a teacher at Glenview Elementary School demanding justice for our Black students. I implore you to pass the George Floyd Resolution in order to promote the safety, wellbeing, and life of our students. I implore you to be leaders in an age where leadership is determined by how much money and power you hold and not by leadership grounded in integrity, justice, and equity. I implore you make the first (of many) steps in the direction of dismantling the school to prison pipeline system. Defund the police; fund our kids and their future.
I support the Black Organizing Project’s hard fought efforts to take police out of our schools and support the George Floyd Resolution.
Equity Allies stands with Black Organizing Project and support the People’s Plan for Police Free Schools and the George Floyd Resolution as is, with no amendments. We ask you to vote in favor of the resolution to eliminate the OUSD School Police Department. As per the People’s Plan, we must:
Divest from School Policing by Eliminating the Oakland School Police Department by 2020 and Barring any Future Contracts with Law Enforcement
Reorganize the Campus Safety and Security Program Under the Department of Equity or Behavioral Health and Restructure the Role of Security Personnel to Become Mentors and Peace/Culture Keepers
Reinvest $2.3m+ OSPD Budget into Hiring Additional School Mental & Behavioral Health and Special Education Staff
Establish a Community Oversight Committee to Review and Redress all Student and Family Complaints Regarding Interactions with Law Enforcement or School Security Personnel.
Signed,
Equity Allies for OUSD
I firmly support the resolution to remove police from Oakland schools. The money devoted to the police is better used for other programs to support our schools. We need more restorative justice education, we need more health, safety, support, both for the physical and emotional safety of all of our students, specifically Black and Brown ones who attend underfunded OUSD schools. Having police in our schools is traumatizing and a complete waste of resources.
Hello Councilmembers,
I work in Oakland and I support this resolution to eliminate the Oakland Schools Police Department. Having the police on a school campus is unnecessary and only exacerbates the school to prison pipeline. I hope you strongly consider this resolution. Thank you.
I support the resolution. No other school district in Alameda County pays for police in the schools. Equity demands we utilize other resources to keep our schools safe for all students.
DEFUND THE POLICE! Get them out of the schools they are CHILDREN NOT CRIMINALS! POLICE SHOULD BE SERVING THE COMMUNITY NOT LOCKING UP CHILDREN! USE THE MONEY TO PAY BETTER TEACHERS! Use the money for TEXT BOOKS! USE THE MONEY FOR HEALTHY MEALS! USE THE MONEY FOR ON CAMPUS NURSES OR THERAPIST! USE THE MONEY TO FUND COLLEGE VISITS! Use the money TO FUND THE ARTS & DEBATE TEAMS! Get those officers out of these schools IMMEDIATELY! In no way is this an effective use OF MY TAX DOLLARS! MAYBE USE THE MONEY TO HELP KIDS GET TO & from school safely! Maybe use the money to provide care packages to students! Use the money to HIRE TUTORS FOR THESE KIDS IN CLASSES!!! Anything but keeping these officers in these schools! MORE MONEY SPENT ON MENTAL HEALTH, SEX EDUCATION, HIGHER EDUCATION NOT ANOTHER POLICE OFFICER
We need police-free schools! It is a human right! Not doing so, is an ongoing human rights violation!
We are in full support and in solidarity with the Black Organizing Project!
Andrea Vásquez Jiménez and Silvia Argentina Arauz
Co-Directors of Latinx, Afro-Latin-America, Abya Yala Education Network (LAEN)
In this historic moment, it is imperative that we find new ways of being in our community. We need to get police out of schools and invest in counseling, particularly trauma-based counseling and emotional intelligence training for our children. Thank you, Marianne Manilov
My name is Cecilia Bermudez. I’m a law clerk with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights in San Francisco. I’m calling on behalf of LCCR to support the George Floyd Resolution.
Research and history have shown that OUSD has a long record of disproportionately suspending, expelling, involuntary transferring and arresting Black students in the name of safety. Many students who are currently criminalized at schools have mental health needs, behavioral health needs, or disabilities that are too costly for schools to take on. Over policing is a costly system that diminishes educational success and fails to guarantee safety in schools.
Specifically, over-policing leads to the criminalization of youth, a higher dropout rate among students of color, exacerbates the cycle of poverty, and negatively impacts the health of Black and Brown communities. Eliminating OPD and redistributing those funds on students and teachers would do more for the community than policing ever could.
I am an OUSD educator and I support the George Floyd Resolution to eliminate the OSPD from OUSD. Police contribute to systemic racism and violence, and schools should be safe spaces for learning and growth. We have an opportunity to reflect now on how we can best live up to OUSD’s values of equity, sanctuary, and putting students first. Our schools are under-resourced and our students are over-policed. Fund counselors, not cops. Fund restorative justice staff, not cops. Fund social workers, not cops. Vote to implement the plan now, as-is.
As a graduate of OUSD, I’ve witnessed firsthand how police and punishment has been weaponized against Black students in particular, while these students are consistently underresourced. Defund OUSD and put this money back into the community.