Meeting Time: May 08, 2024 at 4:00pm PDT
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Agenda Item

O.-1 24-1038 Public Comment On All Non-Agenda Items Within the Subject Matter Jurisdiction of the District - May 8, 2024.

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    Susan Keen 7 months ago

    It is unconscionable to make a new teacher non eligible for rehire after not observing them. This is criminal and Kevin Sun should have their letter rescinded and their job reinstated at Oakland High. As usual, our Oakland School Board has a lot to be ashamed of. DO BETTER.

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    Mitra Zarinebaf 7 months ago

    As an Oakland resident and a community member, I and dozens of others are urging OUSD to give Teacher Sun their job back! This is clear retaliation--Teacher Sun went through all the correct processes to book at Westlake Middle School and was fully approved until outside pressure convinced admin to cancel the reservation. It's unacceptable that this subsequently led to Teacher Sun being fired! It's political retaliation and an unquestionably cruel decision considering there is no evidence that Teacher Sun was not fulfilling their job responsibilities. In fact, many of their students have exclaimed that they enjoy their classroom.

    Teacher Sun is a compassionate and considerate person who is fighting for a free Palestine. Teaching in OUSD is where they're meant to be. Rescind the dismissal of Teacher Sun and sign onto a ceasefire!

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    Robbie Tasker 7 months ago

    Very disappointed in the OUSD! Given the outstanding record of Kevin as a teacher, and the fact that their is no reasonable basis for his dismissal, one can only be perplexed by the decision of the OUSD to remove him from his role. I’m sure you’ll all come to your senses and reinstate him. Which Kevin undoubtedly deserves.

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    Divya Farias 7 months ago

    I am a teacher at Oakland High and member of the OEA exec board. We have a problem with the way non-re-election and tenure status is done in OUSD. We are continuing to face ghastly teacher turnover and staffing shortages -- and you'd think this would compel the district to invest more resources into training and retaining new teachers.

    On top of this, OUSD stays silencing and repressing staff and students who dare to speak out and organize for Palestine solidarity. Kevin Sun has been made ineligible from rehire in OUSD because OUSD has a contemptuous interest in quashing Palestine organizing. The district has acted similarly in its efforts to suspend Palestinian staff, forcibly shut down a student walkout for Gaza at Oakland Tech, and misconstrue a teach-in on Palestine as somehow beyond the purview of teachers' academic freedom. OUSD would rather side with Zionists to protect itself than take a principled stance in defense of free speech. Give Kevin their job back!!!

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    Pillar W 7 months ago

    I strongly urge the OUSD Board rescind Teacher Kevin Sun's non-reelection. Oakland High administrators have no reasonable basis for dismissing Kevin on anything related to their job performance. A permanent ban from the school district after just one year is severe, wanton, unreasonable and irresponsible, especially in this job market. Kevin is a beloved teacher and deserves to be treated with respect in their workplace. Schools should be focusing on retaining existing teachers, especially ones loved by their students. The onus is on OUSD to explain why Teacher Sun’s termination was not retaliation for union activity in solidarity with Palestine.

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    Connie Champagne 7 months ago

    I do not believe anyone should be "non-re-elected without cause" for protesting. It is every American's right.

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    June Nelson 7 months ago

    As a former OUSD teacher and Oakland resident, I urge the board to rescind the dismissal of Teacher Sun. OUSD is already struggling to retain teachers yet consistently removes the most dedicated, compassionate, and hardworking teachers for political reasons. This is illegal and unjust. OUSD fired three teachers and blacklisted me in 2022
    for taking action against school closures. I was a special ed teacher at Lockwood, and since I was fired despite fierce advocacy from other teachers and my students’ parents, OUSD has failed to fill that position and almost all my students had to switch schools because they weren’t being adequately supported. This is what happens when the district retaliates against teachers - not only is the teacher’s life disrupted but so is every student and family they work with. I call on OUSD to rescind their decision to remove Teacher Sun because it’s unjust and will lead to further disillusionment and unenrollment from the district.

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    Bikku Kuruvila 7 months ago

    I strongly encourage the district to rescind Teacher Kevin Sun's non-re-election. Teacher Sun is a passionate, caring, and committed teacher who is a valued and important part of the Oakland High community. At a time when it is so hard to retain good teachers, the district should do more support rather than dismiss people like Kevin Sun. That no reason has been provided for the non-re-election is chilling.

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    Jesus Medina 7 months ago

    I encourage the OUSD board to rescind teacher Sun’s non-reelection. Teacher Sun is a valued member of the Oakland High community and deserves to keep their job. They have received praises from students and colleagues. Teacher Sun has had a clear positive impact on their students. Oakland High can only benefit from having an educator like Teacher Sun.

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    Emily Blumenthal 7 months ago

    As an Oakland High School teacher, I ask that OUSD to rescind Teacher Sun's non-reelection. They have proven to care deeply about their students and the broader school community. The lack of clarity and communication around their non-reelection is deeply concerning, and as a Jewish teacher I oppose all retaliation for involvement in organizing for Palestine.

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    Rumeli Snyder 7 months ago

    I urge the OUSD Board rescind Teacher Kevin Sun's non-reelection. I am the social worker for recent immigrant students at Oakland High School. Teacher Sun is a first year teacher who has received much praise from their students and colleagues. They have no complaints against them and were not formally reviewed. It is concerning to think they are being let go because of their involvement in organizing for Palestine. As a Jewish staff person, I feel strongly that staff should be able to support Palestine through organization, protests, etc. Thank you.

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    Elena Pinsky 7 months ago

    I would like for Teacher Sun to be able to continue to teacher at Oakland High - please rescind their non-reelection. They have clearly proven that they are important to the students and this community. As a Jewish staff member, I do not feel that it is okay for staff to be retaliated against for supporting Palestine organizing. Thank you.

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    Rumi Koshino 7 months ago

    I ask that the OUSD Board rescind Teacher Kevin Sun's non-reelection. I am Teacher Sun's colleague at Oakland High School. For the past year of working with them, I had nothing but good interaction with them, many of which were conversations about supporting students and creating an equitable classroom. Teacher Sun is a kind of person who would stand up for ALL of our students, and we must retain teachers like them in OUSD.

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    Eric Espinosa 7 months ago

    I am a D6 teacher. I am writing to in the hopes that the board rescind Kevin Sun’s unjust firing from the district. Teacher Sun is a cherished member of the Oakland Education community with authentic connections to students. They were not formally observed, with only 20 minutes in the classroom and a sticky note left for feedback. Further, Kevin has been active in organizing within an OEA-endorsed labor coalition called Labor For Palestine. OUSD officials have given no reason for barring Kevin from OUSD, and has left us to believe their firing is intended to send a message to teachers not to organize for Palestine. This is dirty political stunt that has material effects on the life of a valued educator of the community. Reinstate Kevin Sun!!

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    Allison Grill 7 months ago

    I am a D1 teacher and D2 voter. I am writing to demand that the board rescind Kevin Sun’s illegal and unjust firing from the district. Teacher Sun is a well liked member of the Oakland high community with strong relationships with both students and staff. They were formally observed only once, with no formal evaluation notes or feedback given. What’s more, Kevin has been active in Palestine organizing within OEA and Bay Area Labor. Ohigh admin or OUSD officials have given no reason for barring Kevin from OUSD, and has left us to believe their firing is politically motivated, using Kevin to make a clear statement that organizing for Palestine liberation in OUSD is a risk to our jobs. Reinstate Kevin Sun!!

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    Jason Wins 7 months ago

    Rescind Kevin Sun's non-reelection! Teacher Sun is a first-year teacher who has received many testimonials of support from students and colleagues and received no professional support from administration and no formal evaluation this year. There is no basis for denying this teacher a second year of employment in the district other than their union activity in solidarity with Palestine! Teacher Sun submitted the reservation for space at Westlake Middle School on Feb. 25, 2024, for a meeting of Bay Area Labor for Palestine, an organization to which Oakland Education Association belongs. After approving the reservation, the District suddenly cancelled it less than a day before it was to take place for reasons that were clearly political. That was bad enough. To fire the teacher who made the reservation on behalf of their union and a labor coalition is flat out illegal and immoral! Rescind Teacher Sun's non-reelection.

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    Craig Gordon 7 months ago

    Rescind Kevin Sun's non-reelection! Teacher Sun is a first-year teacher who has received many testimonials of support from students and colleagues and received no professional support from administration and no formal evaluation this year. There is no basis for denying this teacher a second year of employment in the district other than their union activity in solidarity with Palestine! Teacher Sun submitted the reservation for space at Westlake Middle School on Feb. 25, 2024, for a meeting of Bay Area Labor for Palestine, an organization to which Oakland Education Association belongs. After approving the reservation, the District suddenly cancelled it less than a day before it was to take place for reasons that were clearly political. That was bad enough. To fire the teacher who made the reservation on behalf of their union and a labor coalition is flat out illegal and immoral! Rescind Teacher Sun's non-reelection.

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    Craig Gordon 7 months ago

    Rescind Kevin Sun's non-reelection! Teacher Sun is a first-year teacher who has received many testimonials of support from students and colleagues and received no professional support from administration and no formal evaluation this year. There is no basis for denying this teacher a second year of employment in the district other than their union activity in solidarity with Palestine! Teacher Sun submitted the reservation for space at Westlake Middle School on Feb. 25, 2024, for a meeting of Bay Area Labor for Palestine, an organization to which Oakland Education Association belongs. After approving the reservation, the District suddenly cancelled it less than a day before it was to take place for reasons that were clearly political. That was bad enough. To fire the teacher who made the reservation on behalf of their union and a labor coalition is flat out illegal and immoral! Rescind Teacher Sun's non-reelection.

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    Craig Gordon 7 months ago

    Rescind Kevin Sun's non-reelection! Teacher Sun is a first-year teacher who has received many testimonials of support from students and colleagues and received no professional support from administration and no formal evaluation this year. There is no basis for denying this teacher a second year of employment in the district other than their union activity in solidarity with Palestine! Teacher Sun submitted the reservation for space at Westlake Middle School on Feb. 25, 2024, for a meeting of Bay Area Labor for Palestine, an organization to which Oakland Education Association belongs. After approving the reservation, the District suddenly cancelled it less than a day before it was to take place for reasons that were clearly political. That was bad enough. To fire the teacher who made the reservation on behalf of their union and a labor coalition is flat out illegal and immoral! Rescind Teacher Sun's non-reelection.