Continued comment: I have some questions:
1. Does the school board have any formal decision making process where all the salient factors are evaluated? The lack of an environmental impact analysis for one implies that there is not even a checklist that is followed.
2. Can we not at least get an admission that a proper consultative process was not followed? If so, the decision should be stayed until it is completed.
I think everyone in this room knows students and their families deserve better than this. Hastily making closed-door decision that can easily be anticipated to be unpopular is like flushing, overflowing a toilet and then slinking out through the back door.
Yes, we deserve better. Stay this decision and we can work out a good solution together.
ACTION ITEM: Can I please get a formal answer to my questions?
Regarding impending and executed school closures: I am sure this difficult decision was made with the best intentions for the district. Even if the decision to close these schools is the least bad option under difficult circumstances, what I think is not debatable is that the decision-making process lacked transparency, and a comprehensive impact analysis on students, families, equity, and the environment. When objections were raised, instead of disclosing details and justifications, the District actively stonewalled Public Records Act requests – this is the opposite of transparent government, and honestly sound to me more like the Trump administration would handle earnest requests than a school district whose purpose is to serve the community.
I'm writing to support the speaker from the Parent Student Advisory Committee for the LCAP concerning the response from the District to their recommendations. As part of the CAC for Special Education for the Oakland SELPA that you are also the executive board of, we are also concerned by the way our recommendations were addressed and will have a response to ours coming as well.
I am, as is the entire OUSD community, opposed to school closures. The reasons for closures were financial. I would argue that “right sizing” our inflated administrators and their salaries would be the first step to cutting costs- and yet you chose closing schools.
This community demands neighborhood schools. Ousd is now expected to receive 58M$ more in unrestricted funds, on top of the $110M restricted funds- they have the money and these closures aren’t needed, and there is not a real strategic plan in place that warrants them. Closing Hillcrest's middle school will not alleviate the district's alleged financial challenges. In fact, closing the middle school will result in an estimated net LOSS of $390K - $790K for the district due to attrition and enrollment loss. With an estimated 24% enrollment loss between 5th and 6th grades, OUSD middle school attrition is 2 - 24X higher than comparable districts. Hillcrest retains 25% - 70% MORE middle schoolers than surrounding schools.
Continued comment: I have some questions:
1. Does the school board have any formal decision making process where all the salient factors are evaluated? The lack of an environmental impact analysis for one implies that there is not even a checklist that is followed.
2. Can we not at least get an admission that a proper consultative process was not followed? If so, the decision should be stayed until it is completed.
I think everyone in this room knows students and their families deserve better than this. Hastily making closed-door decision that can easily be anticipated to be unpopular is like flushing, overflowing a toilet and then slinking out through the back door.
Yes, we deserve better. Stay this decision and we can work out a good solution together.
ACTION ITEM: Can I please get a formal answer to my questions?
Regarding impending and executed school closures: I am sure this difficult decision was made with the best intentions for the district. Even if the decision to close these schools is the least bad option under difficult circumstances, what I think is not debatable is that the decision-making process lacked transparency, and a comprehensive impact analysis on students, families, equity, and the environment. When objections were raised, instead of disclosing details and justifications, the District actively stonewalled Public Records Act requests – this is the opposite of transparent government, and honestly sound to me more like the Trump administration would handle earnest requests than a school district whose purpose is to serve the community.
I'm writing to support the speaker from the Parent Student Advisory Committee for the LCAP concerning the response from the District to their recommendations. As part of the CAC for Special Education for the Oakland SELPA that you are also the executive board of, we are also concerned by the way our recommendations were addressed and will have a response to ours coming as well.
Audio from board members is low on zoom please fix
I am, as is the entire OUSD community, opposed to school closures. The reasons for closures were financial. I would argue that “right sizing” our inflated administrators and their salaries would be the first step to cutting costs- and yet you chose closing schools.
This community demands neighborhood schools. Ousd is now expected to receive 58M$ more in unrestricted funds, on top of the $110M restricted funds- they have the money and these closures aren’t needed, and there is not a real strategic plan in place that warrants them. Closing Hillcrest's middle school will not alleviate the district's alleged financial challenges. In fact, closing the middle school will result in an estimated net LOSS of $390K - $790K for the district due to attrition and enrollment loss. With an estimated 24% enrollment loss between 5th and 6th grades, OUSD middle school attrition is 2 - 24X higher than comparable districts. Hillcrest retains 25% - 70% MORE middle schoolers than surrounding schools.