The Oakland Education Week in Review 1/21-1/27

Lots on the related issues of the OUSD budget crisis, school closures, and the looming teacher strike.  Plus, open enrollment for all public schools in Oakland ends 2/8 I look at schools at all grade levels showing growth on test scores and high performance and list all the open houses, a historic look at the last round of school closures, updates from the superintendent and director London, the housing crisis and teacher affordability, all that and much with links– please read, share and get involved

Oakland:

California:

Other Stories:

School Visits:

January 28th:

January 29th:

January 30th:

January 31st:

February 1st:

February 2nd:

 

Oakland:

  • Oakland Unified looks to cut up to $30 million from 2019-20 budget
    • Oakland Unified may cut as much as $30 million from its budget for the next school year and lay off administrative staff in its next move to lessen the multi-million dollar deficit.
  • Teacher Sickout Looming in Oakland as Anger Boils Over
    • After more than a year and a half without a contract, Oakland teachers are preparing to vote on a strike. But teachers frustrated with how slowly the formal bargaining process works say they want to show the district they’re willing to strike. So for the second time in two months some teachers plan to call in sick en masse Friday in what they’re calling a “sickout.”
  • Oakland Teachers Hold ‘Art Build’ To Make Statements Ahead Of Potential Strike
    • The union says it wants more student resources, smaller class sizes and what they call a “living wage” for its workers. It is using the power of art to reinforce the message. Union and community members met in Oakland on Sunday for an “art build” to create the protest materials for a potential strike.
  • Public High Schools Oakland Families Should Look at Based on the Latest Test Scores–Apply by the 2/8 Deadline
    • Every Oakland parent has the right to apply to basically any Oakland public school during the open enrollment period which ends on February 8th. Where you send your child to school is one of the most important decisions you can make.  The new school quality data was released by the state recently, and I wanted to highlight some of the schools making progress with Oakland children, and encourage families to visit.
  • Oakland school district funding proposal puts school libraries in jeopardy
    • Here’s why: According to the school district, about 30 percent of the 84 school libraries are closed — many in low-income areas. Reducing Measure G funds at schools serving lower-income students would inevitably lead to the closure of even more libraries in low-income areas, denying underprivileged students access to learning resources. This would only increase the learning gap in Oakland’s schools.
  • Board Watch January 23rd
    • Four big things on the agenda for this week’s Oakland School Board are:
      • 1. OUSD Budget Cuts Update – A revised plan for up to $30M in budget cuts  
      • 2. The “Opportunity Ticket” Update – Board vote on a policy allowing students from closing schools to get priority access to Oakland’s best schools
      • 3. Roots International Academy School Closure – Board update  
      • 4. OUSD’s Legislative Priorities and Principles – Board Vote
  • Supt. Johnson-Trammell Budget Address
    • Please watch this video message to gain a better understanding of issues the District is currently facing, some of which are sure to be important topics of discussion at tonight’s Board of Education (BOE) meeting.
  • We’ve been here before: Lessons from Oakland school closures in 2011
    • Since the passing of the Community of Schools policy, 1Oakland leaders advocated for an implementation of the policy that would improve student outcomes and create enduring change. We encouraged the school board and superintendent to make hard decisions to get to the right number of schools so that we increase access to a high-quality education.
  • Oakland School Board to vote on recommended budget cuts
    • In a week, the Oakland School Board will vote to approve budget reductions for next year. Wednesday night they will discuss some of those proposed cuts in a meeting which is expected to be a heated one.
  • We passed and implemented a historic data resolution!
    • Visibility will increase for underrepresented students in Oakland Unified! Implementation of a Disaggregated Data Resolution passed in 2016 by AYPAL, Banteay Srei, and Asian Health Services adds “Mien”, “Tongan”, “Yemeni”, “Mam,” and other key groups to enrollment forms that will now disaggregate data for most students. This is the first data resolution of it’s kind in Oakland and sets a precedent for how data should be collected and reported moving forward for school districts everywhere. Check out this video produced by students at KDOL for more info!
  • Will History Repeat Itself? School Closures and What We Need to Learn from the Past.
    • We are concerned about how the Community of Schools policy is being implemented. School closures are painful and disruptive. They should only happen when a clear plan exists for each and every child impacted by the closures to get access to a higher-quality school. Read on for our concerns, lessons from the last time OUSD closed schools, and our demands for how OUSD must move forward.
  • Friday Five: Weekly news for Oakland charters
    • This week, we have a look at the highest performing Oakland public high schools based on the new state school quality data; an opinion on why the L.A. teachers’ strike was inevitable; more deserved props for Latitude High 37.8 (make sure to check out our feature, too!); and some recent OUSD news on the budget and upcoming teachers union strike authorization vote.
  • Update from Jody London, District 1 School Board Director
    • We know we have tough decisions ahead as we work with Superintendent Johnson-Trammell to create a citywide plan for our school district that we can afford. This newsletter is focused on my thoughts about the budget and school funding, as well as some stories about our students and schools.

California:

Other Stories:

  • NY school denies that girls were strip searched
    • The community group Progressive Leaders of Tomorrow urged people via social media to turn out at Tuesday night’s school board meeting. The group said the girls, who are black, were questioned and “strip-searched” by the school nurse and assistant principal at Binghamton’s East Middle School on Jan. 15 because they seemed hyper and giddy during their lunch hour and were suspected of possessing drugs.

School Visits:

January 28th:

  • Tour Of Francophone Charter! All Welcome!!
    • January 28 @ 8:30 am – 9:15 am
    • Interested in Francophone?
    • Come join a guided tour of the facility!
    • Location:  9736 Lawlor Street, Oakland, CA
    • RSVP @ https://francophoneschool-tours-19-20.eventbrite.com
    • Contact: Mathilde Andrejko 510-746-0700
    • Tour Dates
    • Jan 28, 2019 (8:30am to 9:15am)

January 29th:

  • School Tour of Chabot Elementary! All Welcome!
  • January 29 @ 8:15 am
  • School Tour of Chabot Elementary
  • Come for a tour of our school!
  • Location: 6686 Chabot Road, Oakland, CA 94618
  • Time: 8:15 am
  • Contact: [email protected]
  • All School Tour Dates:
      • January 29
      • February 4
  • School Tour of Community School for Creative Education! All Welcome!
    • January 29 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am
    • School Tour of Community School for Creative Education
    • For prospective parents interested in a guided tour and an opportunity to see classes and learn the school’s history. No need to sign up, but call main office when you arrive at (510) 686-4131.
    • Location: 211 International Blvd
    • Time: 9-10am
    • Contact Person: Ida Oberman | (510) 517-0331 | [email protected]
  • School Tour: Bella Vista Elementary
    • January 29 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am
    • Interested In Bella Vista Elementary?
    • Please come to join them on a tour of the facilities
    • They love to show off the fabulous things happening at Bella Vista.
    • Families will take a tour of campus and classrooms of interest.
    • Parents are encouraged to contact the school office to sign up for tours, as well as provide advance notice of the grade level classrooms they are interested in visiting.
    • All prospective families are welcome to visit during any of the listed tour times. Our walking tour includes both classroom visits and Q&A with the tour guide.
    • Thank you for your interest in Bella Vista Elementary School!
    • Location: 1025 E 28th Street, Oakland, CA 94610
    • Phone: 510436-4900
    • Web Address:  https://www.ousd.org/bellavista
  • Tour of North Oakland Community Charter School!
    • January 29 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am
    • Interested in North Oakland Community Charter School?
    • Join us for a parent-led school tour where you can see the school grounds, visit classrooms in session, plus ask questions of current parents and students. At the end of the tour, you will be able to have a Q&A session with our head of school Mr. Kloker. Come learn all about all the programs, partnerships and community events that make NOCCS so special.
    • Location: 1000 42nd Street Oakland, CA 94608
    • Time: 9:00am-10:00am
    • Please RSVP by clicking HERE
    • Contact: Dr. Lehi Dickey | [email protected]

January 30th:

  • School Tour at Aurum Prep Academy
    • January 30 @ 8:15 am – 9:15 am
    • School Tour at Aurum Prep Academy
    • Please come to join them on a tour of the school!
    • Location: 1034 66th Avenue, Oakland
    • Time: 8:15am
    • RSVP by emailing [email protected] or by calling 510.746.7860.
  • REACH Academy Enrollment Session!
    • January 30 @ 8:45 am – 9:45 am
    • REACH Academy will be hosting a neighborhood enrollment session for families interested in preschool, Kinder/TK for fall 2019.
    • Families will have an opportunity to learn more about:
    • Enrollment process
    • Visit classrooms & talk to current parents
    • The school’s vision to prepare all students for college
    • *Reminder: enrollment deadline is February 8, 2019*
    • For more information please contact Maria Sujo | 510-879-2760 | [email protected]
  • School Tour of Montclair Elementary! All Welcome!
    • January 30 @ 9:00 am – 10:30 am
    • School Tour of Montclair Elementary
    • PROSPECTIVE FAMILIES TOURS (All Grades, TK-5)
    • Thank you for your interest in Montclair Elementary School!
    • We are currently conducting school tours for prospective families for the 2019-20 academic school year.
    • To sign up, click this this message for the Tour Sign Up link and fill out the form.
    • Tours are conducted on Wednesdays, 9:00-10:30 am; and Saturdays (limited), 10-11:30 am.
    • Parent volunteers lead the tours, and there will be a Q&A portion with Interim Principal Dr. Saddler.
    • The hour and a half-long tour generally includes visits to a Kinder classroom, the Library, and the play area.
    • Tours start promptly, so please allow time for parking and check-in.
    • All attendees are required to sign in as a Visitor in the school office located at 1757 Mountain Blvd.
    • Sign up as soon as you can, as spaces are limited and tours fill up quickly. Tours are for parents and guardians only (no students, please). We look forward to meeting you!
    • Location: 1757 Mountain Boulevard, Oakland, CA, 94611
    • Time: 9:00am to 10:30am
  • School Tour Of Markham Elementary! All Welcome!!
    • January 30 @ 9:30 am – 10:30 am
    • Interested In Markham Elementary?
    • Please come to join them on a tour of the facilities!
    • No need to sign up.
    • Thank you for your interest in Markham Elementary!
    • Location:  7220 Krause Ave, Oakland, CA 94605
    • Time: 9:30am
    • Phone:  (510) 639-3202
    • Web Address:  https://www.ousd.org/markham

January 31st:

  • Tour of KIPP Bridge Charter School!
    • January 31 @ 8:30 am – 9:00 am
    • Interested in KIPP Bridge Charter School?
    • The mission of KIPP Bay Area Public Schools is to operate high-achieving public schools in educationally underserved communities, developing in our students the knowledge, skills and character essential to thrive in college, shape their futures, and positively impact the world.
    • Please join KIPP Bridge as they will be doing a tour of the school!
    • Location: 1700 Market Street Oakland, CA 94607
    • Time: 8:30-9:00am
    • Contact Person: Cierra Standford || 510-381-2849 || [email protected]

February 1st:

  • School Tour at Urban Montessori
    • February 1 @ 9:00 am – 10:30 am
    • Registration for Enrollment Tours are available here and registration is required. We do not offer visits to UMCS outside of scheduled enrollment tours.
    • Tours include an informational video about UMCS, a campus walk-through with classroom observations and a Q & A panel with school leadership, staff, and current parents. Because tours include visits to classrooms in session please do not bring children to the tours. Tours are for adults only and REQUIRE advance registration. We are not able to offer individual tours outside of the to-be-published tour schedule.
    • At UMCS, we work to create a truly inclusive school community reflective of the racial and socioeconomic diversity of Oakland where each student achieves, differences are valued, voices are heard, and power is shared. We share this vision early with prospective families with the aim of supporting them to also believe in and work towards this goal.
    • Tours
      • Thursday December 6, 9:00 – 10:30 am
      • Wednesday, December 12, 9:00 – 10:30 am
      • Tuesday, January 15, 9:00 – 10:30 am
      • Wednesday, January 23, 9:00 – 10:30 am
      • Friday, February 1, 9:00 – 10:30 am
      • Wednesday, February 6, 6:00 – 7:00 pm (EVENING TOUR)*
      • Friday February 8, 9:00 – 10:30 am
      • Wednesday March 6, 6:00- 7:30 pm (Public Lottery & EVENING TOUR)*
      • *Evening tours are generally shorter because they do not include a school-day observation. When possible, we will work to include a brief Montessori lesson demonstration as part of evening tours.
  • School Tour at AMPS Downtown Charter
    • February 1 @ 9:30 am – 10:30 am
    • School Tour at AMPS Downtown Charter
    • Please come to join them on a tour of the school!
    • Location: 2000 Dennison St, Oakland, CA, 94606
    • Time: 9:30 – 10:30 am
    • Contact: [email protected] or 510-535-1580
  • Roses in Concrete Family Game Night! All Welcome!!
    • February 1 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
    • Roses in Concrete Family Game Night
    • We will be having our 2nd annual Family Game Night on February 1st from 6:00 – 8:00 pm! We hope you all can join us for another great community event! We will be having a raffle, food and lots of community love!
    • Location: Roses in Concrete – 4551 Steele Street Oakland, CA 94619
    • Time: 6pm-8pm
    • Date: February 1st, 2019
    • Please RSVP here: https://goo.gl/forms/82jtpypn80HcVv6d2

February 2nd:

  • Open House at Bay Area Technology School
    • February 2 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
    • Interested in Bay Area Technology School?
    • Bay Area Technology School will be hosting a tour on Saturday, Feb 2nd giving an opportunity for future students to shadow any grades from 6-12 and a chance to explore the school grounds!
    • Please RSVP by clicking HERE.
    • When: February 2nd, 2019
    • Time: 10:00am
    • Location: 8251 Fontaine Street, Oakland, CA 94605
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