Bay Area

Deadlocked OUSD Board Fails to Approve Proposed Budget That Would Cut Programs, Lay Off Teachers, Close Schools

Split 3-3, the Oakland School Board deadlocked on a district budget proposal containing program cuts, layoffs, school mergers and closures on Tuesday night. The budget, which was rushed to the school board only 24 hours after it was released, was backed by Oakland Unified School District Supt. Kyla Johnson-Trammell and Board President Mike Hutchinson.

Published

3 years ago

March 6, 2023

Oakland Post

OUSD Supt. Kyla Trammell-Johnson and OUSD School Board President Mike Hutchinson

By Ken Epstein

Split 3-3, the Oakland School Board deadlocked on a district budget proposal containing program cuts, layoffs, school mergers and closures on Tuesday night.

The budget, which was rushed to the school board only 24 hours after it was released, was backed by Oakland Unified School District Supt. Kyla Johnson-Trammell and Board President Mike Hutchinson.

Board members voted on two resolutions: the first was to give Johnson-Trammell the authority to make cuts and consolidate schools; the second was to give the required legal March 15 notice to allow staff to be laid off.

On the first resolution, board members voting in favor of the cuts were Hutchinson and Clifford Thompson. Sam Davis abstained. Voting ‘no’ were VanCedric Williams, Jennifer Brouhard, and Valarie Bachelor. On the second resolution, Hutchinson, Davis and Thompson supported the layoffs while Williams, Brouhard, and Bachelor voted against them.

Though the school district has a budget surplus, the proposed budget contains about 100 layoffs of classified workers, program cuts at schools, a hiring freeze and mergers or closures of 10 schools. Supporters claim these cuts are necessary in order to provide teachers and other school employees raises this year.

In a statement, the teachers’ union – the Oakland Education Association (OEA) – opposed the budget proposal:

“It is completely disingenuous to present these cuts as necessary to fund a raise for educators and school employees,” the union said. “OUSD got $54 million in new state funding this year. Neighboring districts have already agreed to large raises without cuts or school closures.”

Union leader Kampala Taiz-Rancifer said on Facebook that the proposed “adjustments are cuts!” and “mergers are closures!”

She continued: “Cutting 100 jobs? There are no OEA members that want a raise on the backs of other workers or on the backs of students. Whoever thinks this is a good idea is disgusting.”

At Tuesday night’s meeting, the board seemed to go into closed session for hours as members attempted to resolve their differences over the budget proposals. (Discussion of the budget in closed session potentially could be a violation of the Brown Act, which requires meeting to be held in public.)

After the meeting, Hutchinson bemoaned the failure of the budget plan to pass.

“I’m extremely frustrated and deeply disappointed,” he said on Facebook. “OUSD was preparing to give a historic raise to OEA. Now because of some questionable advocacy, and directors flip-flopping and changing their votes at the last minute, the school board did not approve any budget adjustments before the March 15 statutory deadline to notice employees.

“This now means that OUSD has no resources to offer OEA a salary increase,” he continued. “I hope the folks responsible for this mess are held accountable.”

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Seth Curry Makes Impressive Debut with the Golden State Warriors

Seth looked comfortable in his new uniform, seamlessly fitting into the Warriors’ offensive and defensive system. He finished the night with an impressive 14 points, becoming one of the team’s top scorers for the game. Seth’s points came in a variety of ways – floaters, spot-up three-pointers, mid-range jumpers, and a handful of aggressive drives that kept the Oklahoma City Thunder defense on its heels.

Published

1 week ago

December 4, 2025

Oakland Post

Seth Curry is a point guard on the GSW team.Photo courtesy of the Golden State Warriors.

By Y’Anad Burrell

Tuesday night was anything but ordinary for fans in San Francisco as Seth Curry made his highly anticipated debut as a new member of the Golden State Warriors. Seth didn’t disappoint, delivering a performance that not only showcased his scoring ability but also demonstrated his added value to the team.

At 35, the 12-year NBA veteran on Monday signed a contract to play with the Warriors for the rest of the season.

One of the most memorable moments of the evening came before Seth even scored his first points. As he checked into the game, the Chase Center erupted into applause, with fans rising to their feet to give the newest Warrior a standing ovation.

The crowd’s reaction was a testament not only to Seth’s reputation as a sharpshooter but also to the excitement he brings to the Warriors. It was clear that fans quickly embraced Seth as one of their own, eager to see what he could bring to the team’s championship aspirations.

Warriors’ superstar Steph Curry – Seth’s brother – did not play due to an injury. One could only imagine what it would be like if the Curry brothers were on the court together. Magic in the making.

Seth’s debut proved to be a turning point for the Warriors. Not only did he contribute on the scoreboard, but he also brought a sense of confidence and composure to the floor.

While their loss last night, OKC 124 – GSW 112, Seth’s impact was a game-changer and there’s more yet to come. Beyond statistics, it was clear that Seth’s presence elevated the team’s performance, giving the Warriors a new force as they look to make a deep playoff run.