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Agenda Item
L.-68 25-1472 Approval by the Board of Education of a Memorandum of Understanding By and Between District and Urban Montessori Charter School, Oakland, CA, transiting and continuing the Charter School's Classroom Instructional Program during the 2025-2026 School Year, pursuant to the terms and conditions stated herein, to District's Brookfield Elementary School (BES), with an evaluation to be conducted of the feasibility and appropriateness of continuing said programmatic offerings, as part of the BES instructional program, beyond the 2025-2026 School Year.
Oakland children deserve options. Montessori is another option that we can offer parents and students. Not all humans learn in the same way and Oakland must increase options for families and students so that we can ensure that we are enabling all children to reach their potentials. UMCS has had over 10 years in Oakland and it has been devastating for so many to lose this option. What makes is so difficult is not only that current staff and students must find new communities but that FUTURE Oakland youth and families will be missing out on an amazing opportunity. OUSD has the power right now to continue igniting the imaginations of young people and supporting diverse learners through offering a different way of teaching and learning. This is such a pivotal opportunity not only for future students but future teachers as well. Montessori is a great way to teach and OUSD has the opportunity to become a leader in the Bay with this new journey of bringing Montessori into OUSD.
My name is Tracy Wilson, and I’m a resident of District 7, where Brookfield is located. I strongly support bringing Urban Montessori to this site.
My child has attended Urban Montessori since 3rd grade, and its hands-on, student-centered approach has been life-changing. Finding supportive placement for 5th grade for my child who needs thoughtful, flexible learning environments is hard.
Urban Montessori has helped my child feel seen, supported, and successful through its emphasis on social-emotional growth, sensory learning, and individualized instruction. Having this program in District 7 would be a huge investment in a historically underserved community.
This model supports neurodivergent learners, promotes family engagement, uses culturally responsive practices, and offers a high-quality public option within reach of families like mine.
I fully support this proposal and urge you to move it forward. It’s a meaningful step toward equity, inclusion, and healing for our community.
My family and I are in full support of this fantastic opportunity! As a parent of three children (two current, one graduate) of Urban Montessori, I know how powerfully versatile and inclusive the Montessori model is for children of diverse learning styles, needs,` and backgrounds. This is a win-win for our kids and for OUSD - once established, having a free in-district Montessori option will undoubtedly be a pull for many families and for kids all over Oakland. This is a dream!
As both staff member of UMCS and parent of two children who have attended this school for their entire educational journey, I want to express my full support and deep gratitude for this UMCS merger with Brookfield and OUSD.
Without this merger, I face losing my job, my children—and their classmates—would be displaced, scattering a nurturing community that has supported them for years. Moreover, this would leave Oakland families without access to the only free Montessori option, which typically costs over $100,000 through a child's K–8 education.
Cities across California offer multiple free Montessori options. Oakland deserves the same. This merger is a critical step in preserving and expanding access to a model of education that honors the child and guides them in their unique pursuit of personal growth and academic potential.
Thank you for your support and for considering this merger—not only for the benefit of UMCS, but for the continued educational equity of all Oakland children
I am a teacher on special assignment at Brookfield Village Elementary and I support the proposal of adopting the Montessori Program onto our campus! We have the space and need the students :). I feel that children in our community would benefit greatly from having access to Montessori classrooms, which is normally very costly. I believe that the Montessori instructional method, which focuses on small group and one-on-one learning, would be a fantastic addition to our academic vision. It would be great to have more families join our campus as well! I give this two thumbs-up!
This is an incredible opportunity to continue public Montessori in Oakland. Vote in favor of this program and give this gift to the Brookfield community.
Publicly accessible Montessori school is a must for Oakland! The impact it has had on our outside the box, neurodivergent, intelligent, inquisitive, creative and chaotic community has been epic. I am so glad that Mr Bissonett and UMCS are getting another opportunity to share this magical way of educating to a new round of folks, even though I will miss it in my community. Please vote yes to allow these teachers and students to shine their brightest!
As a parent of three students at UMCA I'm excited about Montessori programming in OUSD, this is a good way to bring families into the district and for other students to share different educational experiences.
As a current family with two children at Oaklands only public Montessori, we are thrilled by the opportunity for having public Montessori continue with the MOU at Brookfield! Thank you everyone for your hard work and dedication to making this incredible model of education accessible to Oakland families!
I fully support bringing this Montessori program to Brookfield elementary. My kids have been at UMCS for 6 years, which has given us access to a learning style that has allowed my children to thrive. A learning style that wouldn’t have been accessible to us otherwise.
Our family is in strong support of the Montessori program, with its inclusivity to diverse learning styles, and it’s vibrant community to join with and expand community and education with Brookfield Elementary.
The closing of this school has been stressful for families. Providing an opportunity for these families to be together in another nearby setting with familiar resources will make this school closing much less impactful. Please support this proposal.
Urban Montessori has been an absolute gift to my Kindergartener who is on the Autistic spectrum. He is thriving in this particular environment where he can learn at his own pace, teach younger students what he has mastered, and explore his interests with support and independence. Our family has been in Oakland for 80 years with three generations of OUSD students. Urban Montessori embodies the spirit of our town with diversity, community, and a mission to provide a unique place to nurture children's innate passion to learn. Please vote to support this effort in the interest of promoting an expansive vision for education. This is an opportunity to set an example for inclusivity and progress other cities can follow.
I support the addition if the Montessori program into Brookfield Elementary. Supporting Montessori education programs, should be normal thing for all California school districts in this day in age. There are numerous neuro-diverse children, whose needs are not met, due to lack of resources. Putting children in Special Ed programs, that moves them away from their classrooms, instead of just having alternate methods of learning within district schools, is something that should not be happening in 2025. The inclusion of a Montessori program at Brookfield will meet this needs, as well as bring back children into the district, and away from private and charter institutions, thus ensuring our school's are better funded. It is a win-win situation. Only positive can come if it. I hope the District agrees wholeheartedly with this, and supports this pioneering move.
Urban Montessori is the “alternative model” people want but can’t name. Developed for underserved children, it builds focus, independence, and resilience, especially critical for at-risk students. Rather than forcing kids into rigid structures, Montessori meets them where they are, using hands-on materials, mixed-age classrooms, and student-led learning.
Merging Urban Montessori into Brookfield Elementary brings proven outcomes: higher engagement, better attendance, stronger executive function. It offers access to a model that honors the whole child and prepares them not to comply, but to thrive as themselves.
Daniel and his team bring unwavering dedication and professionalism to the students. Their presence ensures this model is delivered with care, consistency, and high standards.
I helped build Brookfield Court while working with Habitat for Humanity—a project President Carter visited. Both schools represent a personal and lasting commitment to this community for me.
Urban Montessori School has brought immense benefits to our children's lives, and I cannot overstate the positive impact it has had on my child. The holistic approach—nurturing not just academic growth, but also physical development, emotional intelligence, and logical reasoning—has helped my child flourish in ways I hadn’t imagined. It's truly inspiring to see how the Montessori environment encourages independence, creativity, and deep, meaningful learning. I genuinely hope this wonderful program can continue on, as it has proven to be such a valuable and transformative experience not only for my child but for so many others in our community.
Oakland children deserve options. Montessori is another option that we can offer parents and students. Not all humans learn in the same way and Oakland must increase options for families and students so that we can ensure that we are enabling all children to reach their potentials. UMCS has had over 10 years in Oakland and it has been devastating for so many to lose this option. What makes is so difficult is not only that current staff and students must find new communities but that FUTURE Oakland youth and families will be missing out on an amazing opportunity. OUSD has the power right now to continue igniting the imaginations of young people and supporting diverse learners through offering a different way of teaching and learning. This is such a pivotal opportunity not only for future students but future teachers as well. Montessori is a great way to teach and OUSD has the opportunity to become a leader in the Bay with this new journey of bringing Montessori into OUSD.
My name is Tracy Wilson, and I’m a resident of District 7, where Brookfield is located. I strongly support bringing Urban Montessori to this site.
My child has attended Urban Montessori since 3rd grade, and its hands-on, student-centered approach has been life-changing. Finding supportive placement for 5th grade for my child who needs thoughtful, flexible learning environments is hard.
Urban Montessori has helped my child feel seen, supported, and successful through its emphasis on social-emotional growth, sensory learning, and individualized instruction. Having this program in District 7 would be a huge investment in a historically underserved community.
This model supports neurodivergent learners, promotes family engagement, uses culturally responsive practices, and offers a high-quality public option within reach of families like mine.
I fully support this proposal and urge you to move it forward. It’s a meaningful step toward equity, inclusion, and healing for our community.
My family and I are in full support of this fantastic opportunity! As a parent of three children (two current, one graduate) of Urban Montessori, I know how powerfully versatile and inclusive the Montessori model is for children of diverse learning styles, needs,` and backgrounds. This is a win-win for our kids and for OUSD - once established, having a free in-district Montessori option will undoubtedly be a pull for many families and for kids all over Oakland. This is a dream!
As both staff member of UMCS and parent of two children who have attended this school for their entire educational journey, I want to express my full support and deep gratitude for this UMCS merger with Brookfield and OUSD.
Without this merger, I face losing my job, my children—and their classmates—would be displaced, scattering a nurturing community that has supported them for years. Moreover, this would leave Oakland families without access to the only free Montessori option, which typically costs over $100,000 through a child's K–8 education.
Cities across California offer multiple free Montessori options. Oakland deserves the same. This merger is a critical step in preserving and expanding access to a model of education that honors the child and guides them in their unique pursuit of personal growth and academic potential.
Thank you for your support and for considering this merger—not only for the benefit of UMCS, but for the continued educational equity of all Oakland children
I think Brookfield should accept UMCS and Montessori pedagogy and instruction into the school because it would be a beneficial plan for all involved.
Urban Montessori is a wonderful school and we would want it to be part of Brookfield
I am a teacher on special assignment at Brookfield Village Elementary and I support the proposal of adopting the Montessori Program onto our campus! We have the space and need the students :). I feel that children in our community would benefit greatly from having access to Montessori classrooms, which is normally very costly. I believe that the Montessori instructional method, which focuses on small group and one-on-one learning, would be a fantastic addition to our academic vision. It would be great to have more families join our campus as well! I give this two thumbs-up!
I support this. School is big and updated. Great opportunity. Neighborhood is being upgraded and I know this because I live in this neighborhood
Brookfield parent excited about this new transition
This is an incredible opportunity to continue public Montessori in Oakland. Vote in favor of this program and give this gift to the Brookfield community.
Publicly accessible Montessori school is a must for Oakland! The impact it has had on our outside the box, neurodivergent, intelligent, inquisitive, creative and chaotic community has been epic. I am so glad that Mr Bissonett and UMCS are getting another opportunity to share this magical way of educating to a new round of folks, even though I will miss it in my community. Please vote yes to allow these teachers and students to shine their brightest!
As a parent of three students at UMCA I'm excited about Montessori programming in OUSD, this is a good way to bring families into the district and for other students to share different educational experiences.
As a current family with two children at Oaklands only public Montessori, we are thrilled by the opportunity for having public Montessori continue with the MOU at Brookfield! Thank you everyone for your hard work and dedication to making this incredible model of education accessible to Oakland families!
I fully support bringing this Montessori program to Brookfield elementary. My kids have been at UMCS for 6 years, which has given us access to a learning style that has allowed my children to thrive. A learning style that wouldn’t have been accessible to us otherwise.
Our family is in strong support of the Montessori program, with its inclusivity to diverse learning styles, and it’s vibrant community to join with and expand community and education with Brookfield Elementary.
The closing of this school has been stressful for families. Providing an opportunity for these families to be together in another nearby setting with familiar resources will make this school closing much less impactful. Please support this proposal.
Urban Montessori has been an absolute gift to my Kindergartener who is on the Autistic spectrum. He is thriving in this particular environment where he can learn at his own pace, teach younger students what he has mastered, and explore his interests with support and independence. Our family has been in Oakland for 80 years with three generations of OUSD students. Urban Montessori embodies the spirit of our town with diversity, community, and a mission to provide a unique place to nurture children's innate passion to learn. Please vote to support this effort in the interest of promoting an expansive vision for education. This is an opportunity to set an example for inclusivity and progress other cities can follow.
I support the addition if the Montessori program into Brookfield Elementary. Supporting Montessori education programs, should be normal thing for all California school districts in this day in age. There are numerous neuro-diverse children, whose needs are not met, due to lack of resources. Putting children in Special Ed programs, that moves them away from their classrooms, instead of just having alternate methods of learning within district schools, is something that should not be happening in 2025. The inclusion of a Montessori program at Brookfield will meet this needs, as well as bring back children into the district, and away from private and charter institutions, thus ensuring our school's are better funded. It is a win-win situation. Only positive can come if it. I hope the District agrees wholeheartedly with this, and supports this pioneering move.
Urban Montessori is the “alternative model” people want but can’t name. Developed for underserved children, it builds focus, independence, and resilience, especially critical for at-risk students. Rather than forcing kids into rigid structures, Montessori meets them where they are, using hands-on materials, mixed-age classrooms, and student-led learning.
Merging Urban Montessori into Brookfield Elementary brings proven outcomes: higher engagement, better attendance, stronger executive function. It offers access to a model that honors the whole child and prepares them not to comply, but to thrive as themselves.
Daniel and his team bring unwavering dedication and professionalism to the students. Their presence ensures this model is delivered with care, consistency, and high standards.
I helped build Brookfield Court while working with Habitat for Humanity—a project President Carter visited. Both schools represent a personal and lasting commitment to this community for me.
Urban Montessori School has brought immense benefits to our children's lives, and I cannot overstate the positive impact it has had on my child. The holistic approach—nurturing not just academic growth, but also physical development, emotional intelligence, and logical reasoning—has helped my child flourish in ways I hadn’t imagined. It's truly inspiring to see how the Montessori environment encourages independence, creativity, and deep, meaningful learning. I genuinely hope this wonderful program can continue on, as it has proven to be such a valuable and transformative experience not only for my child but for so many others in our community.