The Kaiser-Sankofa merger is a done deal after the board’s vote on Wednesday for a merger, but the controversy is not over. The Kaiser teachers penned a blistering letter to the board, rejecting any cooperation with the merger. “These school closures and consolidations will not save OUSD money, since any savings would be more than…
School Choice
The Geography of Opportunity in Oakland; And How Kaiser and Sankofa Became So Different
“An African-American born in West Oakland can expect to die almost 15 years earlier than a White person born in the Hills” –Alameda County Public Health Department Report The disparities in our schools are by design, not accident. When we have schools like Kaiser and Sankofa, geographically not far apart, but in other ways demonstrating…
Yes, It’s about Race, Race and the Schools Oakland Students Deserve; A Kaiser Parent’s Story
A guest post from Dr. Brian Stanley, Black | Husband | Father | Leader | Policy Nerd | Oakland, we always welcome guest writers The Oakland Unified School District is recommending merging my child’s school, Henry J. Kaiser Elementary and Sankofa Elementary into a single school on the Sankofa campus in North Oakland. Kaiser, nestled in the…
Why the Latest Charter School Compromise Won’t Fix Charter Authorizing, And Actually Makes the Situation Worse
News broke last week that one of Sacramento’s most vexing legislative issues had reached a compromise. The teachers’ union and charter association had agreed on a compromise bill on revising the charter law. I’m not clapping for a broken process, that was all about what choices California’s most underserved families will have—and had none of…
We Need Real Solutions from OUSD on Facilities, Not More Bickering to Nowhere
As the school board comes back into session, and it’s most strategically important decisions loom. You have to ask whether they will actually do something besides bickering into inaction. Early signs are troubling. One example can illuminate the whole situation. A District With Immense Wealth that Can’t Pay the Bills OUSD is one the largest…