Oct 12-Board of Ed. Summary

October 14, 2011

In Board Watch Blog

Wednesday's School Board meeting was dominated the school closure discussion.  Over 80 speakers voiced concern and discontent with Superintendent Tony Smith's plan to close five elementary schools for the 2012-13 school year.
 
The meeting, which was held at Castlemont High School, had four hours of school closure discussion by the Board and community members, but no action was taken.  The Board is expected to vote on Smith's proposal at the next meeting on October 26 at Oakland Technical High School.
 
Community Concerns
Between the September 27 and October 12 meetings, District staff has conducted community meetings at all five of schools potentially closing.  Denise Saddler, OUSD's Director of Community Engagement, said several themes emerged from each of the community meetings:

• Safety: In addition to safety of potentially longer walking or driving commutes, community members voiced concern about the safety of students at different school sites.
• Transportation: Parents were concerned about how students will get to their new school.
• Community Engagement: Many people said there should have been more communication from District staff about the shortcomings of the closing schools and decision-making process.
• Trust: As echoed in public comment at Wednesday's meeting, community members voiced a lack of trust for OUSD staff and Board members throughout the decision to close schools.

 Sadler said the displaced students would receive "personalized" and "priority treatment" as they get placed in new schools.  Normally families who go through the options process hear their placement in March, but Sadler said the District will notify displaced students of their placement by the Winter Break.
 
Board Discussion
Following public comment, the Directors had four minutes each to comment on, and raise questions of Smith's proposal.  When Board President Jody London said, "It is important to acknowledge that there are many people in general community that believe we operate too many schools in Oakland," members of the audience expressed their opposition while Director London spoke; she recessed the meeting for approximately 15 minutes.
 
Follow the link below to view each School Board member's four-minute comment:

• Director Kakishiba said he was curious how the financial impact of a potential 20% attrition rate compares with the expected financial savings of closing schools.
• Director Spearman focused her comments on the potential closing of Marshall, where she first got involved in OUSD.
• Director Yee distilled the public comments from the community meetings and Board meetings into four broad messages.
• Director Gallo said he doesn't believe the District should close one school.
• Director Dobbins centered his comments on schools within his district and those neighboring.
• Director Hodge said she wants a clear picture of what the next step would be if the Board votes to close schools.
• Director London said there are people within Oakland that do believe the District operates too many schools.

Smith responded to many of the concerns and questions raised by the Directors.  He said the District would have transition managers at each school site to help students and families in the process.  He also said they expect Kaiser and Burkhalter - both originally slated for closure - to expand.

Click here for a video of Smith discussing the challenge of balancing the options process and establishing quality neighborhood schools.
 
New Business:
• Textbook Sufficiency:
The Board approved a resolution certifying that students in OUSD have been provided "sufficient" textbooks and instructional materials.

 
• Board Meeting Changes:
The Board approved a proposal to suspend the standing committees for six months, effective January 1, 2012.  The Board will continue to hold two regular scheduled meetings a month, but with exception of the Disciplinary Hearing Committee, the regular committees will be suspended on a trial basis.
 
· Tabled for another meeting:
Many of the other agendized items, including Director Gallo's proposed policy to set a process for future school closures, and a presentation honoring OUSD Teacher of the Year, Lisa Hiltbrand, were tabled on Wednesday night.

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Tags: options, school closure, school portfolio management, textbooks