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 am a lifelong D1 voter. I urge board members, especially Director Davis, to vote no. I don't believe you have done the equity or special needs analyses needed to support this list. As the earliest budget deficits could emerge is 2023-2024, the optimum path forward would be to complete these analyses in 2022-23, finalize lists for closures if any in January 2023 with costed business cases for vacated sites, still giving parents the full chance to research and use their opportunity ticket.
However, if you do adopt this resolution at this time, this legislation does not budget any transition funds promised in the analysis. It is essential that these be appropriated in the assumed absence of outside funding as soon as possible, and that you explain in legislation how those funds will redress the selective harms against black, special needs, and ESL students that are inherent in this legislation.
I would like to reiterate my disappointment in procedure and the quality of analysis here.
Hello, my name is Raya. 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. Hands off our schools!
I am so disappointed that you all would consider this proposal. It is racist and exploitative. I am listening to the board meeting and not one person is in favor of it. I am an oakland parent - my son attends skyline high school. Shame on you Gary Yee for spearheading this shameful proposal. Please vote no.
I've worked at 40 OUSD schools. I stand with OUSD kids, and potentially traumatized communities. "Practice stopping and Listening" Thich Nhat Hanh #LongLivePublicEducation #ProtectTheChildren #StopPrivatization #NoCharterSchools
I don't live in Oakland - I cannot vote any of you out. I don't have children in OUSD. I worked as a partner organization at Roots - closed by OUSD - and built partnerships with OUSD for eight years to support the health of students. We know that consistency is critical for youth. We know that when schools close in communities of color the message they receive is that they don't matter. We know that the relationships students build at schools are instrumental factors for their growth. We know that disrupting those relationships is traumatic. We know that students internalize that trauma. We know small schools represent communities and history. You know that closing schools causes harm. You know that this is disinvestment in public education and that is a dark, bleak project. I know your job is hard, but this is not an inevitable choice. This is a deliberate disinvestment. You know it too.
I oppose these school closures. It doesn’t benefit the students and education is one of the most important things that we can provide our children with.
I strongly oppose the OUSD board’s proposal to close Oakland schools, especially since a majority of these schools are the places where Oakland’s Black and low-income students go to learn, be in community, play and grow. Invest in our communities and follow the lead of the students, educators, families and community members on and off this call. stop the closures and privatization of our schools. As some students and community members said earlier on the call:
“This is a school district and not a business…This feels like a manifestation of gentrification and privatization of public schools in Oakland...When you close the schools, it’s like you close my house. I have to leave, I lose my friends. I lose everything”
I have a second grade student at Manzanita SEED. Although her school is not on the list to be closed I oppose closing any schools in OUSD. The group that stands to lose the most are the students. Instead of making larger schools with larger classes and not enough teachers we need to figure out how to do better with what we have. There has to be other actions that can be taken besides closing schools. I was on the Zoom meeting tonight for 3 hours. During the public comment, I didn't hear one person say the support closing schools. EVERY single comment was in opposition. This is a clear message from the community the school board needs to hear and take into consideration. I understand the large of number of fiscal problems the district is having but there are other ways to solve the problems through comprehensive leadership. I strongly oppose closing any schools. Thank you for the opportunity share my opinion.
Closing these schools in predominately Black and Brown neighborhoods is horrific. If there is such a big deal about issues with finding money, how about the superintendent and all of the board take a pay cut to ensure that the money goes back to the schools?
The detrimental effect that these closures will have on these students' mental health is not measurable in dollars. Closures are destructive to the community overall, and the impact down the road on the families and kids will be costly. If we work together to shift the mindset of the state and the distribution of money per student then this would be an easier financial gap to close. Smaller class sizes are better for teachers and students. Where's the money Benioff gave to OUSD? Why aren't creative solutions being considered instead of this bulldozer? I work as a mental health therapist in a broke middle school and know the toll and trauma of these closures cannot be "cured" with apologies.
I strongly oppose OUSD's proposal to close schools that predominantly serve members of the Black community. I support the Reparations for Black Students resolution and believe that it is the board's responsibility to conduct an equity impact analysis and engage with the community about these issues. The responsibility of the school district is to provide an education for all the students enrolled in their area, so the decision to close schools fundamentally goes against the purpose and values of OUSD. Instead of trying to make cuts that only hurt the communities you are supposed to serve and support, advocate for their needs to larger entities and fight for what all youth deserve- the right to a free education in their community!
I am one of many supporters of the Reparations for Black Students Resolution and am opposed to OUSD’s attempt to balance the budget on the backs of Black students. This board has failed to engage the community tonight's decision will impact nor has the board conducted a 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.
Hello, my name is Julius and I am a resident of District 5. 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. Hands off our schools
It is amazing how you can listen to the innumerable examples of displacement students are speaking about in the meeting and still consider these school closures. Free public education is a right for all students and our job in community is to make those schools accessible and supportive for all students. We are a community of refugees, immigrants families and Oakland natives who are ALL being displaced through the process of gentrification. We listened to students speak about their displacement from homelands who have then found support in their community schools. We have listened students speak about the support at our small continuation schools when all other schools were no longer viable for their success. Small community schools support students.
My son is a 6th grader at Westlake, and I strongly oppose the timeline and process around these proposed closures, particularly in the overall context of the pandemic. This meeting wasted a lot of time on procedural discussion instead of truly hearing from the community. The members should understand procedure around comments in other languages and respond promptly. You could've started the meeting by inviting students to upgrade their Zoom client on Chromebooks immediately so they were prepared. Also, inviting public comment without allowing the public to hear the amendments and changes simply added to the sense of futility and despair. Please help my already-cynical 10 year old have more faith in institutions and adults. At least consider an official, humane, and caring response to the teachers' hunger strike.
I am a lifelong D1 voter. I urge board members, especially Director Davis, to vote no. I don't believe you have done the equity or special needs analyses needed to support this list. As the earliest budget deficits could emerge is 2023-2024, the optimum path forward would be to complete these analyses in 2022-23, finalize lists for closures if any in January 2023 with costed business cases for vacated sites, still giving parents the full chance to research and use their opportunity ticket.
However, if you do adopt this resolution at this time, this legislation does not budget any transition funds promised in the analysis. It is essential that these be appropriated in the assumed absence of outside funding as soon as possible, and that you explain in legislation how those funds will redress the selective harms against black, special needs, and ESL students that are inherent in this legislation.
I would like to reiterate my disappointment in procedure and the quality of analysis here.
Hello, my name is Raya. 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. Hands off our schools!
I oppose all OUSD schools closures.
I am so disappointed that you all would consider this proposal. It is racist and exploitative. I am listening to the board meeting and not one person is in favor of it. I am an oakland parent - my son attends skyline high school. Shame on you Gary Yee for spearheading this shameful proposal. Please vote no.
Opposing school closures!! Ridiculous
I've worked at 40 OUSD schools. I stand with OUSD kids, and potentially traumatized communities. "Practice stopping and Listening" Thich Nhat Hanh #LongLivePublicEducation #ProtectTheChildren #StopPrivatization #NoCharterSchools
I don't live in Oakland - I cannot vote any of you out. I don't have children in OUSD. I worked as a partner organization at Roots - closed by OUSD - and built partnerships with OUSD for eight years to support the health of students. We know that consistency is critical for youth. We know that when schools close in communities of color the message they receive is that they don't matter. We know that the relationships students build at schools are instrumental factors for their growth. We know that disrupting those relationships is traumatic. We know that students internalize that trauma. We know small schools represent communities and history. You know that closing schools causes harm. You know that this is disinvestment in public education and that is a dark, bleak project. I know your job is hard, but this is not an inevitable choice. This is a deliberate disinvestment. You know it too.
I oppose these school closures. It doesn’t benefit the students and education is one of the most important things that we can provide our children with.
I strongly oppose the OUSD board’s proposal to close Oakland schools, especially since a majority of these schools are the places where Oakland’s Black and low-income students go to learn, be in community, play and grow. Invest in our communities and follow the lead of the students, educators, families and community members on and off this call. stop the closures and privatization of our schools. As some students and community members said earlier on the call:
“This is a school district and not a business…This feels like a manifestation of gentrification and privatization of public schools in Oakland...When you close the schools, it’s like you close my house. I have to leave, I lose my friends. I lose everything”
I have a second grade student at Manzanita SEED. Although her school is not on the list to be closed I oppose closing any schools in OUSD. The group that stands to lose the most are the students. Instead of making larger schools with larger classes and not enough teachers we need to figure out how to do better with what we have. There has to be other actions that can be taken besides closing schools. I was on the Zoom meeting tonight for 3 hours. During the public comment, I didn't hear one person say the support closing schools. EVERY single comment was in opposition. This is a clear message from the community the school board needs to hear and take into consideration. I understand the large of number of fiscal problems the district is having but there are other ways to solve the problems through comprehensive leadership. I strongly oppose closing any schools. Thank you for the opportunity share my opinion.
Closing these schools in predominately Black and Brown neighborhoods is horrific. If there is such a big deal about issues with finding money, how about the superintendent and all of the board take a pay cut to ensure that the money goes back to the schools?
Please keep our Oakland schools open!
The detrimental effect that these closures will have on these students' mental health is not measurable in dollars. Closures are destructive to the community overall, and the impact down the road on the families and kids will be costly. If we work together to shift the mindset of the state and the distribution of money per student then this would be an easier financial gap to close. Smaller class sizes are better for teachers and students. Where's the money Benioff gave to OUSD? Why aren't creative solutions being considered instead of this bulldozer? I work as a mental health therapist in a broke middle school and know the toll and trauma of these closures cannot be "cured" with apologies.
I strongly oppose OUSD's proposal to close schools that predominantly serve members of the Black community. I support the Reparations for Black Students resolution and believe that it is the board's responsibility to conduct an equity impact analysis and engage with the community about these issues. The responsibility of the school district is to provide an education for all the students enrolled in their area, so the decision to close schools fundamentally goes against the purpose and values of OUSD. Instead of trying to make cuts that only hurt the communities you are supposed to serve and support, advocate for their needs to larger entities and fight for what all youth deserve- the right to a free education in their community!
As a former teacher of OUSD for 28 years, I oppose closure of schools. Stop funding charter schools and put the money into neighborhood schools.
I am one of many supporters of the Reparations for Black Students Resolution and am opposed to OUSD’s attempt to balance the budget on the backs of Black students. This board has failed to engage the community tonight's decision will impact nor has the board conducted a 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.
Teachers stand with students and oppose school closures!
Hello, my name is Julius and I am a resident of District 5. 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. Hands off our schools
It is amazing how you can listen to the innumerable examples of displacement students are speaking about in the meeting and still consider these school closures. Free public education is a right for all students and our job in community is to make those schools accessible and supportive for all students. We are a community of refugees, immigrants families and Oakland natives who are ALL being displaced through the process of gentrification. We listened to students speak about their displacement from homelands who have then found support in their community schools. We have listened students speak about the support at our small continuation schools when all other schools were no longer viable for their success. Small community schools support students.
My son is a 6th grader at Westlake, and I strongly oppose the timeline and process around these proposed closures, particularly in the overall context of the pandemic. This meeting wasted a lot of time on procedural discussion instead of truly hearing from the community. The members should understand procedure around comments in other languages and respond promptly. You could've started the meeting by inviting students to upgrade their Zoom client on Chromebooks immediately so they were prepared. Also, inviting public comment without allowing the public to hear the amendments and changes simply added to the sense of futility and despair. Please help my already-cynical 10 year old have more faith in institutions and adults. At least consider an official, humane, and caring response to the teachers' hunger strike.