I, Saundra Anderson, am a RSP working with Special Ed mild/mod students at Bret Harte. Along with my colleagues and OEA members, I too vehemently OPPOSE teacher consolidations at this time--Covid and distance learning are already wreaking havoc on the lives of our students, student families and us as educators. With all the money pouring in, why are consolidations a priority? Why cause more change and upheaval in the lives of our students and their families. Trust is so important to our Newcomers esp given the political climate. Consolidation means again they are marginalized NOT valued!! We can do better.
I support my colleagues in the Bret Harte Middle School Newcomer program. The work to build our program must not be destroyed. Consolidating our newcomer program during a pandemic will harm our most vulnerable students. There should be no teacher consolidations during the pandemic. The impact of the pandemic has made it clear that our students need stability during this uncertain time. Our students deserve additional staffing and support not less. OUSD has received millions of dollars in COVID-related relief funding that must be utilized to support our students. Keep teachers at their schools sites and utilize our substitute teachers for additional support.
Keith D. Brown, Bret Harte Newcomer Teacher (OEA President)
Please understand the upheaval of consolidation at Bret Harte Middle School. The NewComer program and 9th grade NewComer program at BHMS are integral to our city wide community. Our family resource center, the Bret Harte Rising Health Center next door, and the counselors both at BHMS and at Bret Harte Rising health center support the needs of our immigrant communities city-wide, as well as any families in need in the city. Our Newcomer programs contribute to the diversity of our school and help the greater community. Please stop consolidations at BHMS!
My name is Sayuri Sakamoto Valenza and I am a Moderate Special Day Class teacher at Bret Harte Middle School.
Right now, five of our Newcomer teachers are being consolidated. This affects our entire school community because they have been providing invaluable supports to our students. BHMS has one of the largest EL, Newcomer, and Sped populations in the district. Everyday it already feels like the ship is sinking. We need all hands on deck just keep the ship afloat. There should be NO teacher consolidations during the pandemic! The impact of the pandemic has made it clear that our students need stability and support, now, more than ever. Please direct the district managers to REVERSE the consolidations at Bret Harte MS.
OUSD received millions of dollars in COVID-related relief funding that must be utilized to support our students. There is no justification for disrupting our school community like this and it is only harming our students. We are respectfully asking for your help!
I'm a teacher at Bret Harte Middle School. I strongly oppose the consolidations at my school. It is not fair to our teachers and our students. This pandemic is making life a challenge. To consolidate at this time is unethical! Our students deserve continuity and support. We need all of our staff to help our close knit community. We have funds in the budget to keep our teachers. So why consolidate?! This is a disservice and a slap in the face to our community. Shame on whoever is making these decisions! Support our school and staff, not destroy! Again, I OPPOSE, this nonsense.
Hi, my name is Thomas Peterson, and I am the partner of Susan Keen who teaches Newcomer World History at OIHS. After hearing about consolidated positions in OUSD, I want to encourage the OUSD School Board to demand that our educators stay in their school communities. There should be NO consolidations of schools or positions during a pandemic year! There is so much need in supporting our youth - whether in synchronous classes, or 1:1 support, or tech support, or food deliveries, or for infinite other ways to support our awesome students and families. OUSD has received millions of dollars in COVID-19-related relief, and we should be using that to support our students, and keep our schools and positions open! NO CONSOLIDATIONS DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC!
I vehemetly OPPOSE teacher consolidations. The consolidations being made through out the district, including my site at Bret Harte Middle School, goes against everything that the district said it would do in the beginning of this worldwide pandemic.
OUSD MUST keep educators in their school communities. No teacher consolidations during the pandemic!! The impact of the pandemic has made it clear that our students need stability and support more than ever. I don't understand how there is HIRING and CONSOLIDATIONS at the same time?
Not to mention that OUSD has received MILLIONS of dollars in COVID-related relief funding that must be utilized to support our students. Our students deserve additional staffing and support. In the beginning Oakland was told that there was additional funding secured for schools to prevent exactly what is happening now! Instead of consolidating teachers, ensure that our students receive the additional support they deserve!
Hi, my name is Susan Keen, and I teach Newcomer World History at OIHS. I want to encourage the OUSD School Board to utilize our school substitutes. They are OEA union brothers and sisters who should be paid to give students what they need - one on one support! Teachers are struggling with high class sizes as well as many students who have individual needs, whether with technology or issues at home. Please, support your OWN choice to allow subs to help our classes 1:1! Focus on providing training and placing these substitute workers, so we can truly provide strong DL for our awesome students! #StudentsAreTheCenterofEverythingWeDo
Hello my name is David Correa I am a teacher as Bret Harte Middle School as well as a parent whose child attends Laurel Elementary School. Recently our 9th grade newcomer program has been consolidated because of low enrollment. I was led to believe that additional funding was secured for schools to prevent consolidations during a pandemic. This was not the case at Bret Harte. I am curious who made the decision to consolidate our 9th grade newcomer program at Bret Harte? I would also like to inform you that as teachers we were caught blindsided by this decision. Consolidating our newcomer program during a pandemic is unjust and hurts some of our most vulnerable students.
Good afternoon OUSD Directors,
I am an educator at Bret Harte Middle School. We are currently facing closure of our 9th grade newcomer program. I understand the # of newcomer enrollment has dropped, but was also informed that there was money in the budget (Covid funding) to keep all classes open, especially during these unprecedented times. I am asking you to reconsider your decision for any closures/consolidations during this stressful time we are all facing. We need our public schools to remain in full force, not tear them down!
I absolutely OPPOSE the "consolidation" of our 9th grade, newcomer program at Bret Harte. I am a teacher at Bret Harte Middle School in Oakland. I teach the Deaf and Hard of Hearing/low incidence students. Not only do I understand the need to fight for our low number, higher need students, but our newcomer students have brought so much diversity in language, culture, and learning at our school. It is important that we DO NOT allow charter schools to take over our site and others. By removing the newcomer program, OUSD is once again taking away a vital group of young people and incredible teachers who add to our close knit community. This is obviously the districts way of closing school sites to give to charters OR move them into our public school sites. I OPPOSE THIS and the dismantling of Bret Harte's newcomer program.
In protest,
Chynna Wilson
Hello. I am a teacher at Bret Harte Middle School. A message to our OUSD Directors:
1. Ensure that our students receive the additional support they deserve.
Direct district managers to fully implement the Fall Crisis Distance Learning MOU to utilize teacher substitutes to provide one on one and small group support.
2. Keep our educators in their school communities. No teacher consolidations during the pandemic. The impact of the pandemic has made it clear that our students need stability and support more than ever.
OUSD has received millions of dollars in COVID-related relief funding that must be utilized to support our students. Our students deserve additional staffing and support.
From a Bret Harte Middle School Teacher, a message to our OUSD Directors:
1. Ensure that our students receive the additional support they deserve.
Direct district managers to fully implement the Fall Crisis Distance Learning MOU to utilize teacher substitutes to provide one on one and small group support.
2. Keep our educators in their school communities. No teacher consolidations during the pandemic. The impact of the pandemic has made it clear that our students need stability and support more than ever.
OUSD has received millions of dollars in COVID-related relief funding that must be utilized to support our students. Our students deserve additional staffing and support.
Hi, I’m Cynthia Silvestre, a teacher from Bret Harte Middle School.
1. Ensure that our students receive the additional support they deserve.
Direct district managers to fully implement the Fall Crisis Distance Learning MOU to utilize teacher substitutes to provide one on one and small group support.
2. Keep our educators in their school communities. No teacher consolidations during the pandemic. The impact of the pandemic has made it clear that our students need stability and support more than ever.
OUSD has received millions of dollars in COVID-related relief funding that must be utilized to support our students. Our students deserve additional staffing and support.
Hello. I am a teacher at Bret Harte Middle School. A message to our OUSD Directors:
1. Ensure that our students receive the additional support they deserve.
Direct district managers to fully implement the Fall Crisis Distance Learning MOU to utilize teacher substitutes to provide one on one and small group support.
2. Keep our educators in their school communities. No teacher consolidations during the pandemic. The impact of the pandemic has made it clear that our students need stability and support more than ever.
OUSD has received millions of dollars in COVID-related relief funding that must be utilized to support our students. Our students deserve additional staffing and support.
1. Ensure that our students receive the additional support they deserve. Direct district managers to fully implement the Fall Crisis Distance Learning MOU to utilize teacher substitutes to provide one on one and small group support. 2. Keep our educators in their school communities. No teacher consolidations during the pandemic. The impact of the pandemic has made it clear that our students need stability and support more than ever. OUSD has received millions of dollars in COVID-related relief funding that must be utilized to support our students. Our students deserve additional staffing and support.
1. Ensure that our students receive the additional support they deserve.
Direct district managers to fully implement the Fall Crisis Distance Learning MOU to utilize teacher substitutes to provide one on one and small group support.
2. Keep our educators in their school communities. No teacher consolidations during the pandemic. The impact of the pandemic has made it clear that our students need stability and support more than ever.
OUSD has received millions of dollars in COVID-related relief funding that must be utilized to support our students. Our students deserve additional staffing and support.
As a 13-year veteran teacher in OUSD, I can see the ways in which Distance Learning is affecting my third grade students. More than ever before, children need SUPPORT and STABILITY. OUSD must fully utilize all available resources - beginning with our highly qualified substitute teaching pool - to support student learning and student voice through small groups and 1:1 instruction virtual instruction. OUSD must also commit to no teacher consolidations at this time, as this destabilizes communities. Let Oakland's teachers do what they always do best: provide stability and support for children and communities!
Hi, my name is Katie Ferrari and I am a teacher at Claremont Middle School. I am submitting this non-agenda item public comment to call on the OUSD School Board to utilize our school substitutes. Our school substitutes are OEA members, and according to our current Memorandum of Understanding, they should be paid to give students what they need: one on one support!
In this season of distance learning, teachers are struggling with high class sizes and many students who have individual needs, whether with technology or issues at home. Students need the support additional adults in the classroom can provide, and substitutes need employment during this pandemic.
As an Oakland elementary teacher, I need all the support I can get in my virtual classroom. OUSD MUST fully implement the Fall Crisis Distance Learning MOU to utilize teacher substitutes to provide one on one and small group support at all school sites.
OUSD MUST keep our educators in their school communities. No teacher consolidations during the pandemic. The impact of the pandemic has made it clear that our students need stability and support more than ever.
OUSD has received millions of dollars in COVID-related relief funding that must be utilized to support our students. Our students deserve additional staffing and support.
I, Saundra Anderson, am a RSP working with Special Ed mild/mod students at Bret Harte. Along with my colleagues and OEA members, I too vehemently OPPOSE teacher consolidations at this time--Covid and distance learning are already wreaking havoc on the lives of our students, student families and us as educators. With all the money pouring in, why are consolidations a priority? Why cause more change and upheaval in the lives of our students and their families. Trust is so important to our Newcomers esp given the political climate. Consolidation means again they are marginalized NOT valued!! We can do better.
I support my colleagues in the Bret Harte Middle School Newcomer program. The work to build our program must not be destroyed. Consolidating our newcomer program during a pandemic will harm our most vulnerable students. There should be no teacher consolidations during the pandemic. The impact of the pandemic has made it clear that our students need stability during this uncertain time. Our students deserve additional staffing and support not less. OUSD has received millions of dollars in COVID-related relief funding that must be utilized to support our students. Keep teachers at their schools sites and utilize our substitute teachers for additional support.
Keith D. Brown, Bret Harte Newcomer Teacher (OEA President)
Please understand the upheaval of consolidation at Bret Harte Middle School. The NewComer program and 9th grade NewComer program at BHMS are integral to our city wide community. Our family resource center, the Bret Harte Rising Health Center next door, and the counselors both at BHMS and at Bret Harte Rising health center support the needs of our immigrant communities city-wide, as well as any families in need in the city. Our Newcomer programs contribute to the diversity of our school and help the greater community. Please stop consolidations at BHMS!
My name is Sayuri Sakamoto Valenza and I am a Moderate Special Day Class teacher at Bret Harte Middle School.
Right now, five of our Newcomer teachers are being consolidated. This affects our entire school community because they have been providing invaluable supports to our students. BHMS has one of the largest EL, Newcomer, and Sped populations in the district. Everyday it already feels like the ship is sinking. We need all hands on deck just keep the ship afloat. There should be NO teacher consolidations during the pandemic! The impact of the pandemic has made it clear that our students need stability and support, now, more than ever. Please direct the district managers to REVERSE the consolidations at Bret Harte MS.
OUSD received millions of dollars in COVID-related relief funding that must be utilized to support our students. There is no justification for disrupting our school community like this and it is only harming our students. We are respectfully asking for your help!
I'm a teacher at Bret Harte Middle School. I strongly oppose the consolidations at my school. It is not fair to our teachers and our students. This pandemic is making life a challenge. To consolidate at this time is unethical! Our students deserve continuity and support. We need all of our staff to help our close knit community. We have funds in the budget to keep our teachers. So why consolidate?! This is a disservice and a slap in the face to our community. Shame on whoever is making these decisions! Support our school and staff, not destroy! Again, I OPPOSE, this nonsense.
Hi, my name is Thomas Peterson, and I am the partner of Susan Keen who teaches Newcomer World History at OIHS. After hearing about consolidated positions in OUSD, I want to encourage the OUSD School Board to demand that our educators stay in their school communities. There should be NO consolidations of schools or positions during a pandemic year! There is so much need in supporting our youth - whether in synchronous classes, or 1:1 support, or tech support, or food deliveries, or for infinite other ways to support our awesome students and families. OUSD has received millions of dollars in COVID-19-related relief, and we should be using that to support our students, and keep our schools and positions open! NO CONSOLIDATIONS DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC!
I vehemetly OPPOSE teacher consolidations. The consolidations being made through out the district, including my site at Bret Harte Middle School, goes against everything that the district said it would do in the beginning of this worldwide pandemic.
OUSD MUST keep educators in their school communities. No teacher consolidations during the pandemic!! The impact of the pandemic has made it clear that our students need stability and support more than ever. I don't understand how there is HIRING and CONSOLIDATIONS at the same time?
Not to mention that OUSD has received MILLIONS of dollars in COVID-related relief funding that must be utilized to support our students. Our students deserve additional staffing and support. In the beginning Oakland was told that there was additional funding secured for schools to prevent exactly what is happening now! Instead of consolidating teachers, ensure that our students receive the additional support they deserve!
Hi, my name is Susan Keen, and I teach Newcomer World History at OIHS. I want to encourage the OUSD School Board to utilize our school substitutes. They are OEA union brothers and sisters who should be paid to give students what they need - one on one support! Teachers are struggling with high class sizes as well as many students who have individual needs, whether with technology or issues at home. Please, support your OWN choice to allow subs to help our classes 1:1! Focus on providing training and placing these substitute workers, so we can truly provide strong DL for our awesome students! #StudentsAreTheCenterofEverythingWeDo
Hello my name is David Correa I am a teacher as Bret Harte Middle School as well as a parent whose child attends Laurel Elementary School. Recently our 9th grade newcomer program has been consolidated because of low enrollment. I was led to believe that additional funding was secured for schools to prevent consolidations during a pandemic. This was not the case at Bret Harte. I am curious who made the decision to consolidate our 9th grade newcomer program at Bret Harte? I would also like to inform you that as teachers we were caught blindsided by this decision. Consolidating our newcomer program during a pandemic is unjust and hurts some of our most vulnerable students.
Good afternoon OUSD Directors,
I am an educator at Bret Harte Middle School. We are currently facing closure of our 9th grade newcomer program. I understand the # of newcomer enrollment has dropped, but was also informed that there was money in the budget (Covid funding) to keep all classes open, especially during these unprecedented times. I am asking you to reconsider your decision for any closures/consolidations during this stressful time we are all facing. We need our public schools to remain in full force, not tear them down!
I absolutely OPPOSE the "consolidation" of our 9th grade, newcomer program at Bret Harte. I am a teacher at Bret Harte Middle School in Oakland. I teach the Deaf and Hard of Hearing/low incidence students. Not only do I understand the need to fight for our low number, higher need students, but our newcomer students have brought so much diversity in language, culture, and learning at our school. It is important that we DO NOT allow charter schools to take over our site and others. By removing the newcomer program, OUSD is once again taking away a vital group of young people and incredible teachers who add to our close knit community. This is obviously the districts way of closing school sites to give to charters OR move them into our public school sites. I OPPOSE THIS and the dismantling of Bret Harte's newcomer program.
In protest,
Chynna Wilson
Hello. I am a teacher at Bret Harte Middle School. A message to our OUSD Directors:
1. Ensure that our students receive the additional support they deserve.
Direct district managers to fully implement the Fall Crisis Distance Learning MOU to utilize teacher substitutes to provide one on one and small group support.
2. Keep our educators in their school communities. No teacher consolidations during the pandemic. The impact of the pandemic has made it clear that our students need stability and support more than ever.
OUSD has received millions of dollars in COVID-related relief funding that must be utilized to support our students. Our students deserve additional staffing and support.
From a Bret Harte Middle School Teacher, a message to our OUSD Directors:
1. Ensure that our students receive the additional support they deserve.
Direct district managers to fully implement the Fall Crisis Distance Learning MOU to utilize teacher substitutes to provide one on one and small group support.
2. Keep our educators in their school communities. No teacher consolidations during the pandemic. The impact of the pandemic has made it clear that our students need stability and support more than ever.
OUSD has received millions of dollars in COVID-related relief funding that must be utilized to support our students. Our students deserve additional staffing and support.
Hi, I’m Cynthia Silvestre, a teacher from Bret Harte Middle School.
1. Ensure that our students receive the additional support they deserve.
Direct district managers to fully implement the Fall Crisis Distance Learning MOU to utilize teacher substitutes to provide one on one and small group support.
2. Keep our educators in their school communities. No teacher consolidations during the pandemic. The impact of the pandemic has made it clear that our students need stability and support more than ever.
OUSD has received millions of dollars in COVID-related relief funding that must be utilized to support our students. Our students deserve additional staffing and support.
Hello. I am a teacher at Bret Harte Middle School. A message to our OUSD Directors:
1. Ensure that our students receive the additional support they deserve.
Direct district managers to fully implement the Fall Crisis Distance Learning MOU to utilize teacher substitutes to provide one on one and small group support.
2. Keep our educators in their school communities. No teacher consolidations during the pandemic. The impact of the pandemic has made it clear that our students need stability and support more than ever.
OUSD has received millions of dollars in COVID-related relief funding that must be utilized to support our students. Our students deserve additional staffing and support.
1. Ensure that our students receive the additional support they deserve. Direct district managers to fully implement the Fall Crisis Distance Learning MOU to utilize teacher substitutes to provide one on one and small group support. 2. Keep our educators in their school communities. No teacher consolidations during the pandemic. The impact of the pandemic has made it clear that our students need stability and support more than ever. OUSD has received millions of dollars in COVID-related relief funding that must be utilized to support our students. Our students deserve additional staffing and support.
1. Ensure that our students receive the additional support they deserve.
Direct district managers to fully implement the Fall Crisis Distance Learning MOU to utilize teacher substitutes to provide one on one and small group support.
2. Keep our educators in their school communities. No teacher consolidations during the pandemic. The impact of the pandemic has made it clear that our students need stability and support more than ever.
OUSD has received millions of dollars in COVID-related relief funding that must be utilized to support our students. Our students deserve additional staffing and support.
As a 13-year veteran teacher in OUSD, I can see the ways in which Distance Learning is affecting my third grade students. More than ever before, children need SUPPORT and STABILITY. OUSD must fully utilize all available resources - beginning with our highly qualified substitute teaching pool - to support student learning and student voice through small groups and 1:1 instruction virtual instruction. OUSD must also commit to no teacher consolidations at this time, as this destabilizes communities. Let Oakland's teachers do what they always do best: provide stability and support for children and communities!
Hi, my name is Katie Ferrari and I am a teacher at Claremont Middle School. I am submitting this non-agenda item public comment to call on the OUSD School Board to utilize our school substitutes. Our school substitutes are OEA members, and according to our current Memorandum of Understanding, they should be paid to give students what they need: one on one support!
In this season of distance learning, teachers are struggling with high class sizes and many students who have individual needs, whether with technology or issues at home. Students need the support additional adults in the classroom can provide, and substitutes need employment during this pandemic.
As an Oakland elementary teacher, I need all the support I can get in my virtual classroom. OUSD MUST fully implement the Fall Crisis Distance Learning MOU to utilize teacher substitutes to provide one on one and small group support at all school sites.
OUSD MUST keep our educators in their school communities. No teacher consolidations during the pandemic. The impact of the pandemic has made it clear that our students need stability and support more than ever.
OUSD has received millions of dollars in COVID-related relief funding that must be utilized to support our students. Our students deserve additional staffing and support.