Bay Area

COMMENTARY: 3 OUSD Board Members ‘Set the Record Straight’ on School Closures, Budget

On March 1, 2023, the San Francisco Chronicle wrote a one-sided story, which contained inaccurate and hyperbolic statements, about the decision of the Oakland school board not to enact budget cuts. As OUSD school board directors, we want to set the record straight. We were elected to end a harmful era of unjust school closures and mergers carried out in Oakland’s Black and Brown communities with little to no notice, let alone authentic engagement with impacted communities.

Published

2 years ago

March 9, 2023

Oakland Post

Jennifer Brouhard, District 2, VanCedric Williams, District 3 Valarie Bachelor, District 6

“We were elected to end a harmful era of unjust school closures and mergers carried out in Oakland’s Black and Brown communities”

We were elected to end a harmful era of unjust school closures and mergers carried out in Oakland’s Black and Brown communities with little to no notice, let alone authentic engagement with impacted communities.

Oakland voters understood that research – and their own experiences – show that school closures don’t save money and are harmful to our most vulnerable students. In November, Oakland voters clearly said, “Enough is enough” by voting for school board directors who were committed to ending these harmful practices, and committed to putting our schools on-track to be the safe and racially just spaces that all our students deserve.

Old habits are hard to break, and that became clear last week when special meeting documents were posted with only two days’ notice that contained the proposed merger of 10 schools with no community engagement.

This is the least amount of time that communities have been given notice of school mergers and closures that any of us can remember, and a violation of the OUSD Community Engagement policy, the Reparations for Black Students Resolution, and AB 1912 – which requires an Equity Impact Analysis before any vote to close, consolidate or merge schools.

Mergers would not impact the budget next school year since they would not occur until the 2024-25 school year. This makes the lack of notice and community engagement even more shocking and unnecessary.

The Public Employment Relations Board recently ruled that the way OUSD closed schools last year was illegal. Additionally, California Attorney General Rob Bonta led an ongoing investigation into the recent school closures by OUSD. We believe that a rush to merge schools currently is legally, financially, and ethically irresponsible.

We were also elected to ensure Oakland students have the safe, stable, and racially just community schools that they deserve. Cutting our lowest-paid staff who provide direct services and support to students is not the way to balance a budget, and it’s certainly not what is best for students.

Finally, we were elected to bring stability to a district that has been mismanaged for decades. Thanks to federal COVID funds, historic increases in state education funding, and the payoff of one of our state loans, we are not in a financial crisis.

However, we do have an obligation to be fiscally responsible and direct our resources where they will have the most impact on students. Unfortunately, rushed decision-making on a compressed timeline based on little community input and insufficient data is a pattern in OUSD and one that we were elected to end.

We need to fundamentally change how our district does business.

That change starts with a few things. First, while our teachers are paid less than the Bay Area average, our highest-paid, top-level employees are paid more.That must change.

We have more unrepresented top-level staff than districts of similar size and demographics. That must change. We owe it to our students, teachers, and families to keep all cuts as far away from the classroom as possible.

Additionally, OUSD has a 22.7% reserve, far more than the 2% reserve required by the state or the 3% reserve required by OUSD board policy. We can fund non-represented positions through the money in reserves and not fill positions vacated through attrition.

The reserves would fund these positions for one year and at the end of one year, departments would have to find other sources of funding if they wanted to maintain these positions.

Lastly, as elected officials, we have a responsibility to the public to be professional and honest in our messaging and actions. The words we use carry power, and so we must choose them carefully.

Our teachers, staff, and administrators work hard and deserve our respect. It is unconscionable to make unfounded accusations that educators who oppose these budget cuts are “engineering a strike.”

Educators, whether they are certificated or classified, work together to build school communities that support our students, families, and communities every day. Teachers do not want a raise on the backs of the people they work with to support students.

No one is “engineering a strike,” and these reckless words only seek to divide students, families, educators, and the community.

We call on our colleagues to engage in civil debate over difficult issues, and not use their positions of power to discredit those who show up to work every day for us, our children, and our city.

Oakland Board of Education Members

Jennifer Brouhard, District 2

VanCedric Williams, District 3

Valarie Bachelor, District 6

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Activism

In 1974, Then-Gov. Jimmy Carter Visited the Home of Oakland Black Black Political Activist Virtual Murrell While Running for President

civil rights icon Georgia State Representative Julian Bond said that Carter, along with governors Reuben Askew of Florida, Dale Bumpers of Arkansas, and Terry Sanford of North Carolina, were all a part of what was being dubbed the “New South” and so supported civil rights and voting rights for African Americans.

Published

1 day ago

January 3, 2025

Oakland Post

Virtual Murrell chats with Jimmy Carter two years before Carter was elected president in 1976. Courtesy photo.

By Virtual T. Murrell
Special to The Post

On his way to seeking the presidency, then-Gov. Jimmy Carter visited the Bay Area in his capacity as campaign chairman of the Democratic National Committee in March of 1974.

A friend of mine, Bill Lynch, a Democrat from San Francisco, had been asked to host Carter, who was then relatively unknown. Seeking my advice on the matter, I immediately called my friend, civil rights icon Georgia State Representative Julian Bond, for his opinion.

Bond said that Carter, along with governors Reuben Askew of Florida, Dale Bumpers of Arkansas, and Terry Sanford of North Carolina, were all a part of what was being dubbed the “New South” and so supported civil rights and voting rights for African Americans.

Based on Julian’s comments, I agreed to host the governor. We picked him up at the San Francisco Airport. With his toothy smile, I could tell almost right away that he was like no other politician I had ever met. On his arrival, there was a message telling him to go to the VIP room, where he met then-Secretary of State Jerry Brown.

After leaving the airport, we went to a reception in his honor at the home of Paul “Red” Fay, who had served as the acting secretary of the Navy under President John Kennedy. (Carter, it turned out, had been himself a 1946 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and served as a submariner in the 1950s.)

The following afternoon, the Niagara Movement Democratic Club hosted a reception for Carter, which was a major success. Carter indicated that he would be considering running for president and hoped for our support if he did so.

As the event was winding down, I witnessed the most amazing moment: Carter’s wife, Rosalynn, was in the kitchen with my former wife, Irene, wearing an apron and busting suds! You would have to have been there to see it: The first and last time a white woman cleaned up my kitchen.

A few months later, President Richard Nixon resigned amid the Watergate scandal. He was succeeded by his vice president, Gerald Ford.

On the heels of that scandal, Jimmy Carter’s election in 1976 represented integrity and honesty at a point in America’s history when he was just what the nation needed to lead as president of the United States.

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Oakland Post: Week of January 1 – 7, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of January 1 – 7, 2025

Published

3 days ago

January 2, 2025

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

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Let’s Talk Health: Empowering Our Community with Health Literacy

At Covered California, we recognize that understanding health insurance is more than just choosing a plan –it’s about having the knowledge to make informed decisions that lead to healthier lives. That’s why this year’s open enrollment campaign, “Let’s Talk Health,” focuses on breaking down barriers and simplifying the complex language of health care.

Published

6 days ago

December 29, 2024

Oakland Post

Dr. Monica Soni. Courtesy of Covered California.

By Dr. Monica Soni

Navigating health insurance can often feel overwhelming, especially for individuals and families who are new to the system or unsure about their options.

Health literacy is critical for achieving better outcomes, reducing disparities, and ensuring every African American and Black Californian — regardless of their income, ethnicity, or background — has access to quality care. By making health insurance simpler to understand, we empower individuals to access preventive services, manage chronic conditions, and avoid costly medical bills.

Breaking Barriers in African American and Black Communities
This year, “Let’s Talk Health” places a special focus on supporting African American and Black communities, where systemic inequities in health outcomes persist. These communities often face higher rates of chronic conditions and challenges in navigating the health care system. To address these disparities, Covered California partnered with trusted organizations to provide information, tips and resources.

In San Francisco, Andre Atkins, Director of Programs at Rafiki Coalition, led a dialogue with Dr. Kim Rhoads, Community Engagement Director at UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center; Destiny Williams, Health and Wellness Program Manager at Rafiki Coalition; and myself.

These conversations play a vital role in the pursuit of health equity by sharing power and creating spaces where our community can learn, share experiences, ask questions and connect with advocates who work daily to understand their unique needs. Through these efforts, we reaffirm our dedication to fostering equity and inclusion in health care, ensuring that every voice is heard and supported.

Why Health Literacy Matters
Health literacy goes beyond understanding health care terms. It’s about empowerment. It equips individuals to make informed decisions, from choosing the right health plan to finding a provider to deliver preventive care and seeking mental health services. At Covered California, we provide tools and resources, such as side-by-side plan comparisons and financial assistance details, to ensure everyone can navigate their options confidently and access the care they need.

Taking the First Step
Whether you’re a student, part-time worker, family of four, open enrollment is your opportunity to prioritize your health and your future. This year’s open enrollment period runs from Nov. 1, 2024, to Jan. 31, 2025, and we’re here to assist you every step of the way.

Consumers must select a health plan by the Dec. 31 to receive coverage for the entire year, starting Jan. 1, 2025.

To find the plan that’s right for you, and take the first step toward a healthier tomorrow, visit CoveredCA.com and fill out the application yourself or put in your ZIP code and connect with a certified agent in your neighborhood who can guide you through your options. Together, we can break down barriers and ensure that all Californians have the tools to thrive.

Dr. Monica Soni, MD, is the Chief Medical Officer for Covered California, where she leads efforts in health equity, quality transformation, and clinical innovation. As a practicing board-certified internal medicine physician and health care leader with over a decade of experience, Dr. Soni is committed to improving affordability, access, and outcomes for all Californians.