22-0243 Adoption by the Board of Education of Resolution No. 2122-0030 - School Consolidations for Fiscal Years 2022-23 and 2023-24.
· Presentation by the Superintendent of Schools of recommendations for School Consolidations for Fiscal Years 2022-23 and 2023-24
· Public Comments on proposed School Consolidations
· Discussion of the Board by and between Members and/or the Superintendent of Schools and/or designee(s)
· Action by Board on Resolution No. 2122-0030
I’m an Oakland resident and a retired teacher. I’m writing to urge you to vote NO on the proposed closure of community schools. Our children have been traumatized enough by the changes due to the pandemic. In the past, we’ve seen how school closures have been an excuse for opening new charter schools on the same site. I stand with teachers at the community schools; they dedicate their lives to providing a nurturing learning environment for under-resourced communities. Their work is powerful and profound; they’ve reached out to me as well as others to help fund school projects which support students and their families. They are doing racial justice work from within the schools; it is the School Board’s responsibility to support this important work. Please support the resolution to call on Gov. Newsom and the state legislature to cancel OUSD’s outstanding state debt.
I was extremely disappointed to witness the presentation from last week's meeting. Aside from closing/merging schools and cutting school site services, the majority of the board and the district seem visionless for the future and ill-equipped to support the needs of the students and families they purportedly represent. What a sad state of affairs. I OPPOSE this plan to close and merge schools.
Hillcrest should not be on the school closure list. The District's own financial analysis ("... School Consolidations - Financial Analysis (Revised) - In Part Community Day, Hillcrest, LaEscuelita Schools (2/8/2022)" notes that closing Hillcrest will result in a net revenue loss for the District due to attrition. If this vote is supposed to save money, then your next step is clear: remove Hillcrest from the closure list.
We ask that you please pause your decision on school closures until other options can be considered. Specifically, please allow time for the completion of the loan forgiveness efforts and the legislative amendment regarding attendance penalties.
If school closures become the only possible option, please reconsider the specific schools being closed and the metric used to make the recommendations. By utilizing enrollment as the primary determining factor for choosing schools to close, the Superintendent's proposal makes financial sense, but it has neglected to consider equity.
The students and families affected will face obstacles such as loss of support systems, separation from friends, and increased commutes. While the budget must be addressed, we ask that you find a path that doesn’t require the greatest disruption to the students who already have the fewest advantages.
Thank you for your time and consideration of our request.
The Board and Staff of Arts for Oakland Kids
Hello, my name is Jillian and I am a resident of District 1. I am one of the many supporters of the Reparations for Black Students resolution and I am opposed to OUSD’s attempt to balance the budget on the back of our Black students. This board has failed to engage the community in tonight’s decision and conduct the necessary equity impact analysis. There are other ways to handle a budget crisis and OUSD’s own history of school closures is a clear indicator that closing schools will not produce the desired district savings.
We should be investing in schools, not shutting them down, and certainly not schools that directly impact the BIPOC community as blatantly as this. Our schools are in an emergency crisis; work with the mayor to request some of California’s surplus of funds. Get creative, do your job and help the people who voted you into office.
I don't know what else to say at this point. 240 people have commented before me-- all but ONE anonymous commenter oppose the closures. Over 35,000 people have signed the action network letter opposing these closures. You have all been contacted direectly by families, students, teachers, your faith communities, your neighbors, and more about how these closures are wrong. Yet you continue to move forward in clear definace of the asks of the communities you were elected to represent. Represent, not dictate. Oakland will rise up and fight back if you decide to close our schools with no equity anaylsis and no community input- trust in that.
I am Marcia Lovelace, a retired educator living in District 3 in Oakland since 1983. 1st Congregational Church of Oakland is horrified to learn about Resolution No. 2122-0030. Please conduct an Equity analysis to reach a fair and just solution. The District would not be harmed by delaying this vote and conducting an Equity analysis–a demand that the city of Oakland’s 33% equity score makes imperative. Two thirds of the schools targeted are majority Black. This is part of an ongoing attack on historically Black neighborhoods in the service of profit and gentrification. The beautiful diversity that I fell in love with when I moved to Oakland is on life-support! Throwing up fiscal and logistical roadblocks to equality and fairness has long been the practice of those in power. You have the opportunity to do better for our students than we have done before. Don't balance your budget on the backs of children of color!
I am a Social Worker at Fremont High School and strongly oppose the closing of Oakland schools. OUSD is dealing with their budget crisis on the backs of black and brown students rather than looking at the many other ways they could solve this issue. In a city like Oakland with a legacy of activism and years of fighting for justice for these youth it is appalling that the board is making such large decisions with incredible impacts on families without community engagement. The average distance a student/family would have to travel to get to these proposed welcoming schools is over 2 miles. Some of these welcoming schools are in completely different neighborhoods, some require our students to walk across dangerous high traffic streets and intersections. The safety of our children was not considered at all in this district's planning. Hands off our schools!
I’m very concerned of black families needing to move due to lack of public schools in the area. This closure would lead to a de facto requirement that nearby residents be wealthy enough to send their kids elsewhere for work, which of course, is completely unfair to current residents.
My name is Zury hernandez, I’m a student at Fremont high school I think schools shouldn’t close because people need the education and it is important for them to keep going to school. And not fall behind
My name is Josephine and I am a 9th grader at Fremont High School in East Oakland.
I oppose to close oakland schools. If you have actually read this, and everyone elses comment there shouldn't be more to be said.
I oppose the proposal to close/merge schools. These closures represent a system failure to prioritize and value education in this country. When we fail our students we have failed as a society. Keep schools open. Pay all school staff a deserving wage. Stop funding a police force.
My name is belinda I am student in Fremont HS I oppose on closing any schools in ousd, some Youths, and younger students rely on school help and education, some schools are more closer to students than others and might be. We rely on closer schools because it’s beneficial to many people.
This is not the time nor the process to close schools. Balancing the inadequate budget on the backs of Black and disadvantaged children is inappropriate. Why now and with so little notice? The District, the Board, and the County need yo be transparent about this.
In the past 15 years, I've been involved faith-rooted community organizing in the Bay Area and have loved ones and family that live, worship, work, and go to school in Oakland. My 4-year old goddaughter is a future OUSD student. I stand up for her and want the best for her. I stand in solidarity with Reparations for Black Students and FAME in demanding OUSD to stop the school closures. I call for the Board to conduct an Equity analysis to reach a just solution that will uplift our communities, especially our Black, Brown, and immigrant students and families. This is an opportunity to make a decision that will speak to what we truly value - Are we going to perpetuate the status quo OR are we willing to redirect resources for social uplift, for the good of our present and future generations, and for the good of ALL who call the Bay Area home? All eyes are on Oakland. Invest in and resource our communities - stop the school closures.
I’m an Oakland resident and a retired teacher. I’m writing to urge you to vote NO on the proposed closure of community schools. Our children have been traumatized enough by the changes due to the pandemic. In the past, we’ve seen how school closures have been an excuse for opening new charter schools on the same site. I stand with teachers at the community schools; they dedicate their lives to providing a nurturing learning environment for under-resourced communities. Their work is powerful and profound; they’ve reached out to me as well as others to help fund school projects which support students and their families. They are doing racial justice work from within the schools; it is the School Board’s responsibility to support this important work. Please support the resolution to call on Gov. Newsom and the state legislature to cancel OUSD’s outstanding state debt.
NO SCHOOL CLOSURES!
I was extremely disappointed to witness the presentation from last week's meeting. Aside from closing/merging schools and cutting school site services, the majority of the board and the district seem visionless for the future and ill-equipped to support the needs of the students and families they purportedly represent. What a sad state of affairs. I OPPOSE this plan to close and merge schools.
Hillcrest should not be on the school closure list. The District's own financial analysis ("... School Consolidations - Financial Analysis (Revised) - In Part Community Day, Hillcrest, LaEscuelita Schools (2/8/2022)" notes that closing Hillcrest will result in a net revenue loss for the District due to attrition. If this vote is supposed to save money, then your next step is clear: remove Hillcrest from the closure list.
We ask that you please pause your decision on school closures until other options can be considered. Specifically, please allow time for the completion of the loan forgiveness efforts and the legislative amendment regarding attendance penalties.
If school closures become the only possible option, please reconsider the specific schools being closed and the metric used to make the recommendations. By utilizing enrollment as the primary determining factor for choosing schools to close, the Superintendent's proposal makes financial sense, but it has neglected to consider equity.
The students and families affected will face obstacles such as loss of support systems, separation from friends, and increased commutes. While the budget must be addressed, we ask that you find a path that doesn’t require the greatest disruption to the students who already have the fewest advantages.
Thank you for your time and consideration of our request.
The Board and Staff of Arts for Oakland Kids
Hello, my name is Jillian and I am a resident of District 1. I am one of the many supporters of the Reparations for Black Students resolution and I am opposed to OUSD’s attempt to balance the budget on the back of our Black students. This board has failed to engage the community in tonight’s decision and conduct the necessary equity impact analysis. There are other ways to handle a budget crisis and OUSD’s own history of school closures is a clear indicator that closing schools will not produce the desired district savings.
We should be investing in schools, not shutting them down, and certainly not schools that directly impact the BIPOC community as blatantly as this. Our schools are in an emergency crisis; work with the mayor to request some of California’s surplus of funds. Get creative, do your job and help the people who voted you into office.
I don't know what else to say at this point. 240 people have commented before me-- all but ONE anonymous commenter oppose the closures. Over 35,000 people have signed the action network letter opposing these closures. You have all been contacted direectly by families, students, teachers, your faith communities, your neighbors, and more about how these closures are wrong. Yet you continue to move forward in clear definace of the asks of the communities you were elected to represent. Represent, not dictate. Oakland will rise up and fight back if you decide to close our schools with no equity anaylsis and no community input- trust in that.
I am Marcia Lovelace, a retired educator living in District 3 in Oakland since 1983. 1st Congregational Church of Oakland is horrified to learn about Resolution No. 2122-0030. Please conduct an Equity analysis to reach a fair and just solution. The District would not be harmed by delaying this vote and conducting an Equity analysis–a demand that the city of Oakland’s 33% equity score makes imperative. Two thirds of the schools targeted are majority Black. This is part of an ongoing attack on historically Black neighborhoods in the service of profit and gentrification. The beautiful diversity that I fell in love with when I moved to Oakland is on life-support! Throwing up fiscal and logistical roadblocks to equality and fairness has long been the practice of those in power. You have the opportunity to do better for our students than we have done before. Don't balance your budget on the backs of children of color!
I oppose the school closures
I am a Social Worker at Fremont High School and strongly oppose the closing of Oakland schools. OUSD is dealing with their budget crisis on the backs of black and brown students rather than looking at the many other ways they could solve this issue. In a city like Oakland with a legacy of activism and years of fighting for justice for these youth it is appalling that the board is making such large decisions with incredible impacts on families without community engagement. The average distance a student/family would have to travel to get to these proposed welcoming schools is over 2 miles. Some of these welcoming schools are in completely different neighborhoods, some require our students to walk across dangerous high traffic streets and intersections. The safety of our children was not considered at all in this district's planning. Hands off our schools!
We need our students in those schools. No to closures.
I’m very concerned of black families needing to move due to lack of public schools in the area. This closure would lead to a de facto requirement that nearby residents be wealthy enough to send their kids elsewhere for work, which of course, is completely unfair to current residents.
My name is Zury hernandez, I’m a student at Fremont high school I think schools shouldn’t close because people need the education and it is important for them to keep going to school. And not fall behind
My name is Josephine and I am a 9th grader at Fremont High School in East Oakland.
I oppose to close oakland schools. If you have actually read this, and everyone elses comment there shouldn't be more to be said.
I oppose the proposal to close/merge schools. These closures represent a system failure to prioritize and value education in this country. When we fail our students we have failed as a society. Keep schools open. Pay all school staff a deserving wage. Stop funding a police force.
My name is belinda I am student in Fremont HS I oppose on closing any schools in ousd, some Youths, and younger students rely on school help and education, some schools are more closer to students than others and might be. We rely on closer schools because it’s beneficial to many people.
My name is Sergio Martin. I am a 9th grader at Fremont High School in East Oakland, CA.
I don’t think should be closed down because it will affect the way we will learn.
This is not the time nor the process to close schools. Balancing the inadequate budget on the backs of Black and disadvantaged children is inappropriate. Why now and with so little notice? The District, the Board, and the County need yo be transparent about this.
In the past 15 years, I've been involved faith-rooted community organizing in the Bay Area and have loved ones and family that live, worship, work, and go to school in Oakland. My 4-year old goddaughter is a future OUSD student. I stand up for her and want the best for her. I stand in solidarity with Reparations for Black Students and FAME in demanding OUSD to stop the school closures. I call for the Board to conduct an Equity analysis to reach a just solution that will uplift our communities, especially our Black, Brown, and immigrant students and families. This is an opportunity to make a decision that will speak to what we truly value - Are we going to perpetuate the status quo OR are we willing to redirect resources for social uplift, for the good of our present and future generations, and for the good of ALL who call the Bay Area home? All eyes are on Oakland. Invest in and resource our communities - stop the school closures.