I am an OUSD parent whose school is not threatened with closure or consolidation. I am concerned, however, with these closures. The rush to close schools without adequate time for community input, at best, looks like an attempt to avoid public outreach. The impact on largely Black and Brown families continues our local and national traditions of, at best, furthering inequitable opportunity.
I don’t know what to think yet about whether the district needs to close some schools for fiscal reasons, as I can’t find any estimated cost-savings calculations. Until the district and the board have a chance to make a stronger case for that, these rushed, effectively racist school closures must not advance.
I support the proposed amendment to postpone the school consolidations. Beyond the amendment, I stand strongly with my community against ANY school closures and mergers. I do not believe there isn’t budget for them to remain open — those funds are misallocated and we demand to see the budget! End this blatant attack on our Black & brown students and stop the privatization of our schools.
I support, because clothing schools right now is very irresponsible and unacceptable! Especially what the world is facing with the Covid-19! Please support because we have two teachers putting their lives on the line to support schools and students education!
(Andre’s and Moses!!!)
Delaying all closures is a good first step, but it's not enough. The closures still have a disproportionate effect on the students - mainly Black and brown - who already are underresourced and undersupported. The comparison school district table doesn't tell the whole story. Are those districts all as geographically dispersed? Are they serving their students well? How is Stockton a good comparison, with 27.5 students per teacher?
Im a district 4 member and educator at Edna Brewer. I strongly support moving back school closures by one year to give the city time to balance budgets in a way that does not harm students and families. In fact, I urge the board to not close any schools, especially those that are home to marginalized students impacted by racism, poverty, and structural inequities. Keep schools open. Manage financial crisis by holding people in leadership accountable.
I oppose any school closure, especially schools that serve black and brown communities. We must protect students and provide them with the safe spaces to learn and grow.
Students and families need time to heal. Closing schools this year is irresponsible and an absurd hardship to impose on families and staff at such short notice. Follow the process you said you would follow; take time and conduct an impact and equity analysis.
Delay these closures and engage in a meaningful process to plan a just path forward! Disrupting children’s lives and their families focus is just plan wrong and will hurt our community!!
A two week process to close schools with next to no community input is unacceptable. Delay these closures and engage in a meaningful process that includes a full equity analysis as you are contractually obligated to do.
Please consider how consolidation is affecting both affluent and less affluent communities. By closing schools in economically challenged areas, resources are funneled to neighborhoods already advantaged. Poor families are further burdened with transportation costs and loss of opportunities (who picks up children if they participate in an after-school activity?) AND wealthier children are screened from seeing real economic disparities they rightfully should be exposed to in the interest of, well, education! Reparation requires moving resources into areas historically denied the advantage of good schools, for the betterment of all. Closing schools in economically challenged areas only feeds a negative feedback loop to further impoverishment.
Once again, OUSD neglected to engage the community in the process and it backfired on you. Every school board member with the exception of Mike Hutchinson and VanCedric Williams should resign immediately. We now know that your motives are to privatize our public schools and sell public property to developers intent on running black and brown families out of Oakland. I support the amendment as a bandaid but it won’t cure the cancer and all board members supporting closures must remove themselves or face a recall.
Hello,
I am an OUSD parent whose school is not threatened with closure or consolidation. I am concerned, however, with these closures. The rush to close schools without adequate time for community input, at best, looks like an attempt to avoid public outreach. The impact on largely Black and Brown families continues our local and national traditions of, at best, furthering inequitable opportunity.
I don’t know what to think yet about whether the district needs to close some schools for fiscal reasons, as I can’t find any estimated cost-savings calculations. Until the district and the board have a chance to make a stronger case for that, these rushed, effectively racist school closures must not advance.
Thank you,
Chris Cassidy
I support the proposed amendment to postpone the school consolidations. Beyond the amendment, I stand strongly with my community against ANY school closures and mergers. I do not believe there isn’t budget for them to remain open — those funds are misallocated and we demand to see the budget! End this blatant attack on our Black & brown students and stop the privatization of our schools.
Stop school closures. I don't want to move and I love my teachers.
I support Andre’s and Moses!! Stop school closure!
I support, because clothing schools right now is very irresponsible and unacceptable! Especially what the world is facing with the Covid-19! Please support because we have two teachers putting their lives on the line to support schools and students education!
(Andre’s and Moses!!!)
I like it here, I don't want to leave, I don't want to go to a school with a lot of people, I'm afraid of getting the virus
Please do not close schools, let us keep learning!
Delaying all closures is a good first step, but it's not enough. The closures still have a disproportionate effect on the students - mainly Black and brown - who already are underresourced and undersupported. The comparison school district table doesn't tell the whole story. Are those districts all as geographically dispersed? Are they serving their students well? How is Stockton a good comparison, with 27.5 students per teacher?
Im a district 4 member and educator at Edna Brewer. I strongly support moving back school closures by one year to give the city time to balance budgets in a way that does not harm students and families. In fact, I urge the board to not close any schools, especially those that are home to marginalized students impacted by racism, poverty, and structural inequities. Keep schools open. Manage financial crisis by holding people in leadership accountable.
stop closures
I oppose school closures especially in black and brown communities
I oppose any school closure, especially schools that serve black and brown communities. We must protect students and provide them with the safe spaces to learn and grow.
Students and families need time to heal. Closing schools this year is irresponsible and an absurd hardship to impose on families and staff at such short notice. Follow the process you said you would follow; take time and conduct an impact and equity analysis.
No school closures.
Delay these closures and engage in a meaningful process to plan a just path forward! Disrupting children’s lives and their families focus is just plan wrong and will hurt our community!!
A two week process to close schools with next to no community input is unacceptable. Delay these closures and engage in a meaningful process that includes a full equity analysis as you are contractually obligated to do.
Stop the closures! Stop sabotaging our schools and communities!
Please consider how consolidation is affecting both affluent and less affluent communities. By closing schools in economically challenged areas, resources are funneled to neighborhoods already advantaged. Poor families are further burdened with transportation costs and loss of opportunities (who picks up children if they participate in an after-school activity?) AND wealthier children are screened from seeing real economic disparities they rightfully should be exposed to in the interest of, well, education! Reparation requires moving resources into areas historically denied the advantage of good schools, for the betterment of all. Closing schools in economically challenged areas only feeds a negative feedback loop to further impoverishment.
You have heard from the community. Please represent us. Stop ALL closures now.
Stop school closures NOW! Follow through with your audit and stop rushing through the process. Families are at risk.
Once again, OUSD neglected to engage the community in the process and it backfired on you. Every school board member with the exception of Mike Hutchinson and VanCedric Williams should resign immediately. We now know that your motives are to privatize our public schools and sell public property to developers intent on running black and brown families out of Oakland. I support the amendment as a bandaid but it won’t cure the cancer and all board members supporting closures must remove themselves or face a recall.