I am very concerned about OUSD's persistent attempts to close schools that serve our children and families of color. It is particularly unconscionable during a pandemic, as well as the lack of transparency and engagement with families and school staff. Please stop undermining the education of our most vulnerable students!
I noticed that there are a large number of Nutrition Services positions being eliminated. What is the rationale for eliminating these positions? Since they are supported with restricted funds, how doe this benefit the general fund?
The ACLU Foundation of Northern California is deeply concerned that OUSD is making these budget decisions without legally-required transparency to the public about its deliberation on planned school closures. We requested public records in September 2021 on school closures, mergers and redesign and, months later, have received a total of four documents. It speaks volumes about OUSD’s deliberate failure to engage in a meaningful process of public engagement that is crucial to assure Black families can collaborate in decision-making on budget actions that fundamentally impact Black students' constitutional rights. Worse still, the result of these budget decisions is an intention to close schools this year that will disproportionately impact Black students: 8 of 11 are schools where Black students are enrolled in higher than average numbers. This raises an alarming pattern of structural anti-Black racism and threatens Black students’ fundamental access to equal educational opportunity.
I am very concerned about OUSD's persistent attempts to close schools that serve our children and families of color. It is particularly unconscionable during a pandemic, as well as the lack of transparency and engagement with families and school staff. Please stop undermining the education of our most vulnerable students!
I noticed that there are a large number of Nutrition Services positions being eliminated. What is the rationale for eliminating these positions? Since they are supported with restricted funds, how doe this benefit the general fund?
The ACLU Foundation of Northern California is deeply concerned that OUSD is making these budget decisions without legally-required transparency to the public about its deliberation on planned school closures. We requested public records in September 2021 on school closures, mergers and redesign and, months later, have received a total of four documents. It speaks volumes about OUSD’s deliberate failure to engage in a meaningful process of public engagement that is crucial to assure Black families can collaborate in decision-making on budget actions that fundamentally impact Black students' constitutional rights. Worse still, the result of these budget decisions is an intention to close schools this year that will disproportionately impact Black students: 8 of 11 are schools where Black students are enrolled in higher than average numbers. This raises an alarming pattern of structural anti-Black racism and threatens Black students’ fundamental access to equal educational opportunity.