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
More than ever, our students are in need of consistency, support, and community. Closing these schools will not only diminish the opportunity for our students to access these three things, but will actively cause harm to the communities at large. Do not shut down the schools.
I'm an Oakland resident of 18 years, and a mother with two boys in OUSD. I strongly oppose the closures of our schools, especially during a pandemic. I urge a full equity analysis that looks at the impact of these closures on the students and families in these neighborhoods, and to explore all other options to address the financial crises.
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 our 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. Hands off our schools! A decision to close community schools is too major a choice to go without community engagement. The very fact that this board passed legislation that exempted themselves from conduction community engagement nor an equity impact analysis is downright disrespectful to the students, families and teachers this board is supposed to serve.
This board voted to extend the lease at 1000 Broadway for another year costing the district an additional 2.5 million dollars. Hands off our schools!
I strongly urge the school board to vote no on school closures. There has not been enough time for the process to determine the impact of these closures. The district has a responsibility to complete an equity analysis impact study as most of these closures impact low income black and brown students as well as special ed students.
There has not been a fully transparent process in consulting with community members about the consolidation of schools. There needs to be an analysis of potential impact of these closures and mergers. What considerations have been made regarding the effectiveness of these small schools? Some are small by design. They were intentionally created so that our students can flourish. I was a founding teacher at Life Academy from 2001 and can attest to the effectiveness of some small schools, backed by numerous peer reviewed research studies. I have been a participant and a researcher on multiple research studies that have demonstrated the effectiveness of these small schools. Please be more thoughtful in your decision-making. Do you research and analysis before you make a decision. The lives of thousands of families will be impacted by this rushed decision by the board. You have wasted countless individuals time, energy, and emotionally depleted some of our most marginalized communities.
There is no way to morally justify the closures of schools that serve majority Black, brown, and low-income communities. OUSD, stop putting profits over your students. Find your funds elsewhere.
If you vote to close any of the schools tonight, you are disregarding the entire community and signing the death warrant of the Westlake Convocation Hunger Strikers, one of whom is currently hospitalized. For the love of God do the right thing.
I appreciate the work of Directors Sam Davis and Aimee Eng and district staff to develop an amendment that removed certain schools from the closure/merger list and postponed others. Please support this amendment.
I support efforts to consolidate ONLY so additional resources can be provided to schools and students to reach better outcomes. More students need better access to small group instruction, individual support and special services. As a reading partner volunteer, I see the progress a student can make with the right support. We need more excellent and well paid instructors who can do this every day for many children. Every child deserves access to excellent instruction.
My own elementary school closed when I was a child. We need a way to stop the spiral and bring more students back into quality top performing schools.
As an alumni graduate from public middle and high schools in Oakland, it saddens me to think some could close due to this consolidation hearing. We need accessible schooling for ALL of our residents and with these closures there will surely only be students in the community displaced and unable to easily attend school in there areas. Please do not let this measure pass.
California *has the money*. This isn't about the money. It's about shutting down pillars of support for Black and Brown communities.
Use the state surplus to cancel Oakland’s school debt and to resource all Oakland schools.
More than ever, our students are in need of consistency, support, and community. Closing these schools will not only diminish the opportunity for our students to access these three things, but will actively cause harm to the communities at large. Do not shut down the schools.
I'm an Oakland resident of 18 years, and a mother with two boys in OUSD. I strongly oppose the closures of our schools, especially during a pandemic. I urge a full equity analysis that looks at the impact of these closures on the students and families in these neighborhoods, and to explore all other options to address the financial crises.
Keep their education.
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 our 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. Hands off our schools! A decision to close community schools is too major a choice to go without community engagement. The very fact that this board passed legislation that exempted themselves from conduction community engagement nor an equity impact analysis is downright disrespectful to the students, families and teachers this board is supposed to serve.
This board voted to extend the lease at 1000 Broadway for another year costing the district an additional 2.5 million dollars. Hands off our schools!
DO NOT CLOSE SCHOOLS!
plz don't close any school down😭
Keep our marginalized communities financed. Stop pulling their support.
i don't want schools to close down because we need to learn? so please don't close them down:(
I strongly urge the school board to vote no on school closures. There has not been enough time for the process to determine the impact of these closures. The district has a responsibility to complete an equity analysis impact study as most of these closures impact low income black and brown students as well as special ed students.
There has not been a fully transparent process in consulting with community members about the consolidation of schools. There needs to be an analysis of potential impact of these closures and mergers. What considerations have been made regarding the effectiveness of these small schools? Some are small by design. They were intentionally created so that our students can flourish. I was a founding teacher at Life Academy from 2001 and can attest to the effectiveness of some small schools, backed by numerous peer reviewed research studies. I have been a participant and a researcher on multiple research studies that have demonstrated the effectiveness of these small schools. Please be more thoughtful in your decision-making. Do you research and analysis before you make a decision. The lives of thousands of families will be impacted by this rushed decision by the board. You have wasted countless individuals time, energy, and emotionally depleted some of our most marginalized communities.
There is no way to morally justify the closures of schools that serve majority Black, brown, and low-income communities. OUSD, stop putting profits over your students. Find your funds elsewhere.
DO NOT CLOSE OUR SCHOOLS!
Hello this is astudent at allendale elementary and i am very sad because you are gonna shut down the schools. :(
If you vote to close any of the schools tonight, you are disregarding the entire community and signing the death warrant of the Westlake Convocation Hunger Strikers, one of whom is currently hospitalized. For the love of God do the right thing.
Keep school open
Oppose this hideous disruptive racist plan. No more shuttered schools.
I appreciate the work of Directors Sam Davis and Aimee Eng and district staff to develop an amendment that removed certain schools from the closure/merger list and postponed others. Please support this amendment.
I support efforts to consolidate ONLY so additional resources can be provided to schools and students to reach better outcomes. More students need better access to small group instruction, individual support and special services. As a reading partner volunteer, I see the progress a student can make with the right support. We need more excellent and well paid instructors who can do this every day for many children. Every child deserves access to excellent instruction.
My own elementary school closed when I was a child. We need a way to stop the spiral and bring more students back into quality top performing schools.
As an alumni graduate from public middle and high schools in Oakland, it saddens me to think some could close due to this consolidation hearing. We need accessible schooling for ALL of our residents and with these closures there will surely only be students in the community displaced and unable to easily attend school in there areas. Please do not let this measure pass.