I support this amendment. This closure plan is rushed and inequitable. City, county and state leaders have all expressed opposition and offered solutions for our short term budget issues. Students at Parker, Community Day and La Escuelita deserve more time as do all our underserved schools. If you are going to close schools this process should start with a reimagining of the whole district.
As a community member, I strongly support the amendment to postpone closures at Community Day and Parker, and the elimination of grades 6-8 at La Escuelita, and fully support the demands of the hunger strikers and the Reparations for Black Students campaign. Young Black and Oaklanders have faced enough injustice in their lives as it is, and OUSD should not potentially add closures to a list, especially without fully considering the equity impacts of such a decision.
As a community member who supports community arts partnerships with OUSD schools, I support the amendment to postpone closures at Community Day School and Parker and the elimination of grades 6-8 at La Escuelita. In order to move towards building trust both within the OUSD community and with the broader Oakland community, I join others in urging the OUSD board to enact an Equity Impact Analysis of the final, amended list of closures and conduct a transparent fiscal analysis of the revised plans for closures and truncations.
This closure process has felt chaotic during a stressful time for students, families, and OUSD staff. Pushing back these closures allows time for the District to work WITH the community, with the county, and with state reps like Mia Bonta to educate the broader public about the larger financial structures at play and to strategize together about how we might address them to ensure the sustainability and equity of OUSD.
I support the amendment to postpone closures at Community Day School and Parker, and the truncation at La Escuelita. But I also demand the following:
1. That OUSD move forward with an Equity Impact Analysis of the final, amended list of closures; and
2. That OUSD conduct a fiscal analysis of the revised plans for closures and truncations.
This closure process - and its amendments - have been chaotic, non-strategic, and problematic from start to finish. Pushing back these closures and the truncation means there is time for the District to study the equity and fiscal impact of these changes, and determine whether they are truly worth the community cost. Please address the larger issues of this crises with comprehensive and strategic planning that keeps equity at the center of final decisions.
I am a teacher at Manzanita Seed Elementary School, the grandparent of an OUSD student, and an Oakland voter. I strongly support the amendment to postpone the closure of any OUSD schools at the end of this school year. The rushed decision to close schools did not give due diligence to understand the fiscal impact of closing schools (minimal) and the disproportionate negative impact of closing schools, primarily schools which served low-income students of color. This amendment is a first step in undoing the harm that would be caused to students and families by this rush to close neighborhood schools.
I support the resolution to postpone the school closures and the hunger strikers. Black and brown students don’t deserve to have their education upended, especially in a year already tumultuous.
OUSD has known about budget shortfalls for years, and yet no equity analysis had been done to determine the impact of closures on the students/communities who are a part of them. And closing any schools mid year is unacceptable. Students, their families and communities have been through too much uncertainty and turmoil the past 2 years to have this thrown on them because y'all weren't prepared. YOU all aren't meeting in person due to the covid surge, yet potentially deciding to force students to switch schools, mix classrooms, and increase the number of students in any given class, all from the safety of your home. Obviously, the budget needs to balanced. But rushing into these decisions without input from the youth and families who would be impacted seems like a huge misstep (and misstep is putting it mildly). Set the model for other districts, slow this process down and do it right--do right by the families that are depending on you (and for whom you have to thank for your jobs).
If Alameda County or the State Supt of Ed, changed their mind and gave OUSD a one year extension on submittal of a multi year balanced budget, that would be great because it would give OUSD to hold genuine discussions w community AND hold off closings until May when we find out how much more money Newsome is giving all the K-12.
But if the extension = OUSD loses the 10 Million school closing incentive payment, AND we still end up closing schools next year.... Not good.
And if no extension of anything, then we risk getting taken over plus we lose the 10 Mill.
I support the amendment to postpone closures at Community Day School and Parker, and the truncation at La Escuelita. But I also demand the following:
1. That OUSD move forward with an Equity Impact Analysis of the final, amended list of closures; and
2. That OUSD conduct a fiscal analysis of the revised plans for closures and truncations.
This closure process - and its amendments - have been chaotic, non-strategic, and problematic from start to finish. Pushing back these closures and the truncation means there is time for the District to study the equity and fiscal impact of these changes, and determine whether they are truly worth the community cost. Please address the larger issues of this crisis with comprehensive and strategic planning that keeps equity at the center of final decisions.
I support the current resolution to postpone closing the schools slated for closure at the end of this school year.
I also urge this board to rescind its prior vote to close schools at the end of the 2022-2023 school year - 10 days notice for a decision of this gravity is ridiculous and has caused chaos in the affected schools.
A question: when have all the Board members/District personnel last done site visits of every school on this list? How well do they know the campuses that they closing?
If the district is concerned about decreasing enrollment, making snap decisions in a chaotic unserious fashion is not the way to show our community good faith. Before taking such serious measures, the Board and District should complete an equity analysis, get community input, do a true fiscal analysis.
I support the hunger strikers and the demands of the Reparations for Black Students campaign- 1. Stabilize Schools During Unstable Times: We demand the immediate cease and desist of considering any schools for closure. 2. Eliminate wasteful spending from the OUSD Budget: End the lease of 1000 Broadway among other suggestions from the community. 3. Publish OUSD Budget Expenditures on Relief Funds: Publish a detailed budget on local, state and federal relief funds. 4. Advocate to California Legislature: Direct OUSD lobbyists and state representatives to secure AB1840 funds without the closure of schools. 5. implement a racial equity impact analysis and the one year community engagement process as outlined in the Reparations for Black Students Resolution. 6. Invest in Majority Black Community Schools. Engage in a process to identify how to transform them into full service community schools and increase enrollment.
NO SCHOOL CLOSURES!!!! You can do it! Please have the courage to slow down and stop the closures. Prescott school in solidarity with all our OUSD allies! Thank you.
I support the hunger strikers and the demands of the Reparations for Black Students campaign- 1. Stabilize Schools During Unstable Times: We demand the immediate cease and desist of considering any schools for closure. 2. Eliminate wasteful spending from the OUSD Budget: End the lease of 1000 Broadway among other suggestions from the community. 3. Publish OUSD Budget Expenditures on Relief Funds: Publish a detailed budget on local, state and federal relief funds. 4. Advocate to California Legislature: Direct OUSD lobbyists and state representatives to secure AB1840 funds without the closure of schools. 5. implement a racial equity impact analysis and the one year community engagement process as outlined in the Reparations for Black Students Resolution. 6. Invest in Majority Black Community Schools. Engage in a process to identify how to transform them into full service community schools and increase enrollment.
I support the amendment to postpone the closures and the grade truncation. The last few weeks have made it clear that OUSD has no plan to implement this drastic plan. School board members who have supported the mass closures have shown that they failed to do any basic diligence to understand the fiscal impact (minimal), disruption and disproportionate impact (major and racialized), and long-term effects on attrition. This amendment is a first step in undoing the damage that has been done with a rushed vote to close so many schools.
No one likes to close schools, but the numbers don’t lie: there are not enough kids in the district to fill all the classrooms. OUSD must contract to make sure there is enough money to support the remaining students. It’s painful, but delaying the closure doesn’t change the need to do it.
The board has shown a complete lack of disrespect for the community and families throughout this process of proposed school closures. There has been no community engagement, no transparency, and no equity analysis showing how these closures will impact students and students of color. No schools should be up for closure in the absence of equity analysis so while it's good to postpone any immediate action, we will still fight for no school closures.
I support the current resolution to postpone closing the schools slated for closure at the end of this school year. I also strongly urge this board to rescind its prior vote to close schools at the end of the 2022-2023 school year. Complete and listen to the equity analysis, get community input and engage in solution finding with the community to help ensure the longer term viability of OUSD. No more rushed and poorly thought-out attempts to balance the budget on the backs of students.
I oppose all the school closures and support this resolution to delay this decision.
I join with fellow Oakland community members to demand the following:
1. That OUSD move forward with an Equity Impact Analysis of the final, amended list of closures; and
2. That OUSD conduct a fiscal analysis of the revised plans for closures and truncations.
This closure process - and its amendments - have been chaotic, non-strategic, and problematic from start to finish. Pushing back these closures and the truncation means there is time for the District to study the equity and fiscal impact of these changes, and determine whether they are truly worth the community cost. Please address the larger issues of this crises with comprehensive and strategic planning that keeps equity at the center of final decisions.
I support this amendment. This closure plan is rushed and inequitable. City, county and state leaders have all expressed opposition and offered solutions for our short term budget issues. Students at Parker, Community Day and La Escuelita deserve more time as do all our underserved schools. If you are going to close schools this process should start with a reimagining of the whole district.
As a community member, I strongly support the amendment to postpone closures at Community Day and Parker, and the elimination of grades 6-8 at La Escuelita, and fully support the demands of the hunger strikers and the Reparations for Black Students campaign. Young Black and Oaklanders have faced enough injustice in their lives as it is, and OUSD should not potentially add closures to a list, especially without fully considering the equity impacts of such a decision.
The community and your consituents have made it clear that we oppose school closures. Stop peddling lies and listen to the people.
No cuts, no closures!
As a community member who supports community arts partnerships with OUSD schools, I support the amendment to postpone closures at Community Day School and Parker and the elimination of grades 6-8 at La Escuelita. In order to move towards building trust both within the OUSD community and with the broader Oakland community, I join others in urging the OUSD board to enact an Equity Impact Analysis of the final, amended list of closures and conduct a transparent fiscal analysis of the revised plans for closures and truncations.
This closure process has felt chaotic during a stressful time for students, families, and OUSD staff. Pushing back these closures allows time for the District to work WITH the community, with the county, and with state reps like Mia Bonta to educate the broader public about the larger financial structures at play and to strategize together about how we might address them to ensure the sustainability and equity of OUSD.
I support the amendment to postpone closures at Community Day School and Parker, and the truncation at La Escuelita. But I also demand the following:
1. That OUSD move forward with an Equity Impact Analysis of the final, amended list of closures; and
2. That OUSD conduct a fiscal analysis of the revised plans for closures and truncations.
This closure process - and its amendments - have been chaotic, non-strategic, and problematic from start to finish. Pushing back these closures and the truncation means there is time for the District to study the equity and fiscal impact of these changes, and determine whether they are truly worth the community cost. Please address the larger issues of this crises with comprehensive and strategic planning that keeps equity at the center of final decisions.
I am a teacher at Manzanita Seed Elementary School, the grandparent of an OUSD student, and an Oakland voter. I strongly support the amendment to postpone the closure of any OUSD schools at the end of this school year. The rushed decision to close schools did not give due diligence to understand the fiscal impact of closing schools (minimal) and the disproportionate negative impact of closing schools, primarily schools which served low-income students of color. This amendment is a first step in undoing the harm that would be caused to students and families by this rush to close neighborhood schools.
I support the resolution to postpone the school closures and the hunger strikers. Black and brown students don’t deserve to have their education upended, especially in a year already tumultuous.
OUSD has known about budget shortfalls for years, and yet no equity analysis had been done to determine the impact of closures on the students/communities who are a part of them. And closing any schools mid year is unacceptable. Students, their families and communities have been through too much uncertainty and turmoil the past 2 years to have this thrown on them because y'all weren't prepared. YOU all aren't meeting in person due to the covid surge, yet potentially deciding to force students to switch schools, mix classrooms, and increase the number of students in any given class, all from the safety of your home. Obviously, the budget needs to balanced. But rushing into these decisions without input from the youth and families who would be impacted seems like a huge misstep (and misstep is putting it mildly). Set the model for other districts, slow this process down and do it right--do right by the families that are depending on you (and for whom you have to thank for your jobs).
If Alameda County or the State Supt of Ed, changed their mind and gave OUSD a one year extension on submittal of a multi year balanced budget, that would be great because it would give OUSD to hold genuine discussions w community AND hold off closings until May when we find out how much more money Newsome is giving all the K-12.
But if the extension = OUSD loses the 10 Million school closing incentive payment, AND we still end up closing schools next year.... Not good.
And if no extension of anything, then we risk getting taken over plus we lose the 10 Mill.
I support the amendment to postpone closures at Community Day School and Parker, and the truncation at La Escuelita. But I also demand the following:
1. That OUSD move forward with an Equity Impact Analysis of the final, amended list of closures; and
2. That OUSD conduct a fiscal analysis of the revised plans for closures and truncations.
This closure process - and its amendments - have been chaotic, non-strategic, and problematic from start to finish. Pushing back these closures and the truncation means there is time for the District to study the equity and fiscal impact of these changes, and determine whether they are truly worth the community cost. Please address the larger issues of this crisis with comprehensive and strategic planning that keeps equity at the center of final decisions.
I support the current resolution to postpone closing the schools slated for closure at the end of this school year.
I also urge this board to rescind its prior vote to close schools at the end of the 2022-2023 school year - 10 days notice for a decision of this gravity is ridiculous and has caused chaos in the affected schools.
A question: when have all the Board members/District personnel last done site visits of every school on this list? How well do they know the campuses that they closing?
If the district is concerned about decreasing enrollment, making snap decisions in a chaotic unserious fashion is not the way to show our community good faith. Before taking such serious measures, the Board and District should complete an equity analysis, get community input, do a true fiscal analysis.
I support the hunger strikers and the demands of the Reparations for Black Students campaign- 1. Stabilize Schools During Unstable Times: We demand the immediate cease and desist of considering any schools for closure. 2. Eliminate wasteful spending from the OUSD Budget: End the lease of 1000 Broadway among other suggestions from the community. 3. Publish OUSD Budget Expenditures on Relief Funds: Publish a detailed budget on local, state and federal relief funds. 4. Advocate to California Legislature: Direct OUSD lobbyists and state representatives to secure AB1840 funds without the closure of schools. 5. implement a racial equity impact analysis and the one year community engagement process as outlined in the Reparations for Black Students Resolution. 6. Invest in Majority Black Community Schools. Engage in a process to identify how to transform them into full service community schools and increase enrollment.
NO SCHOOL CLOSURES!!!! You can do it! Please have the courage to slow down and stop the closures. Prescott school in solidarity with all our OUSD allies! Thank you.
I support the hunger strikers and the demands of the Reparations for Black Students campaign- 1. Stabilize Schools During Unstable Times: We demand the immediate cease and desist of considering any schools for closure. 2. Eliminate wasteful spending from the OUSD Budget: End the lease of 1000 Broadway among other suggestions from the community. 3. Publish OUSD Budget Expenditures on Relief Funds: Publish a detailed budget on local, state and federal relief funds. 4. Advocate to California Legislature: Direct OUSD lobbyists and state representatives to secure AB1840 funds without the closure of schools. 5. implement a racial equity impact analysis and the one year community engagement process as outlined in the Reparations for Black Students Resolution. 6. Invest in Majority Black Community Schools. Engage in a process to identify how to transform them into full service community schools and increase enrollment.
I support the amendment to postpone the closures and the grade truncation. The last few weeks have made it clear that OUSD has no plan to implement this drastic plan. School board members who have supported the mass closures have shown that they failed to do any basic diligence to understand the fiscal impact (minimal), disruption and disproportionate impact (major and racialized), and long-term effects on attrition. This amendment is a first step in undoing the damage that has been done with a rushed vote to close so many schools.
I support the amendment
No one likes to close schools, but the numbers don’t lie: there are not enough kids in the district to fill all the classrooms. OUSD must contract to make sure there is enough money to support the remaining students. It’s painful, but delaying the closure doesn’t change the need to do it.
The board has shown a complete lack of disrespect for the community and families throughout this process of proposed school closures. There has been no community engagement, no transparency, and no equity analysis showing how these closures will impact students and students of color. No schools should be up for closure in the absence of equity analysis so while it's good to postpone any immediate action, we will still fight for no school closures.
I support the current resolution to postpone closing the schools slated for closure at the end of this school year. I also strongly urge this board to rescind its prior vote to close schools at the end of the 2022-2023 school year. Complete and listen to the equity analysis, get community input and engage in solution finding with the community to help ensure the longer term viability of OUSD. No more rushed and poorly thought-out attempts to balance the budget on the backs of students.
I oppose all the school closures and support this resolution to delay this decision.
I join with fellow Oakland community members to demand the following:
1. That OUSD move forward with an Equity Impact Analysis of the final, amended list of closures; and
2. That OUSD conduct a fiscal analysis of the revised plans for closures and truncations.
This closure process - and its amendments - have been chaotic, non-strategic, and problematic from start to finish. Pushing back these closures and the truncation means there is time for the District to study the equity and fiscal impact of these changes, and determine whether they are truly worth the community cost. Please address the larger issues of this crises with comprehensive and strategic planning that keeps equity at the center of final decisions.