Saying it needed to reduce Oakland Unified’s looming budget deficit, the school board earlier this week took the controversial step of authorizing the closure, merger or shrinking of 11 schools with low student attendance.
The decision, which came a couple of weeks after the district announced it would have to take the drastic action, sparked protests, marches and rallies by students, parents, teachers and other members of the community. It even triggered a hunger strike by two district employees.
The vote left many in the school district community wondering what will happen next. Here are the answers to some of the questions people are asking.
Which schools will close when?
Although the district initially considered closing or merging as many as 16 schools, the school board ultimately approved a modified plan that will affect 11 schools.
Under this plan, Parker K-8 School and Community Day School — an alternative school for students expelled from other campuses — will close at the end of this academic year. Carl B. Munck Elementary, Brookfield Elementary, Grass Valley Elementary, Horace Mann Elementary and Korematsu Discovery Academy will close after the 2022-23 academic year.
La Escuelita will be transformed from a K-8 school to a K-5 school at the end of this academic year. Hillcrest K-8 will also become an elementary school, after the 2022-23 academic year.
Rise Community Elementary and New Highland Academy will merge after this academic year.
What options will students have after their schools close or are converted to K-5?
According to the district, students whose schools are closing or who will be left out of those being converted to elementary schools will be eligible for “opportunity tickets.” With those tickets, they’ll be given priority to attend the schools of their choice after students with siblings already enrolled get in first.
Enrollment applications must be filled out by Feb. 18. Officials have said information sessions will be made available to help families navigate the process.
The district also has indicated it will work with committees to determine how best to improve educational and support programming, particularly for Black students, who are disproportionately affected by the school closures.
What happens to students in special education?
For students in certain special education programs at the closing schools, the district has selected schools best suited for them to transfer into. But families also will be given an option to choose a different program.
Where will the teachers of closed schools go?
The district hasn’t publicly said yet, but there are vacant positions they presumably would be able to apply for.
What will happen to the closed school facilities?
That is still unclear. District officials said at a public meeting last month they’ll start examining whether the space will be needed for educational purposes, such as expanding transitional kindergarten classes or other early childhood learning centers.
They’ll also be exploring whether the facilities could be used for “operational support” such as central administration services, temporary classroom space when other schools are being renovated, or other uses such as teacher and staff housing.
Are the school closures and mergers a done deal?
That depends on how successful opponents of the decision are.
The Oakland Education Association, which represents teachers and other district staff, said this week it plans to file a legal complaint with the Public Employment Relations Board to challenge the school board’s action.
Oakland Education Association President Keith Brown said he is prepared to ask educators to go on strike if necessary in a bid to keep schools from closing.
Assembly members Mia Bonta, D-Oakland, and Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, this week authored Assembly Bill 1912, which if passed could give the school district another year to decide whether to consolidate schools.
The state has made about $10 million available to Oakland Unified on the condition it closes schools and submits an audit and financial plan. But AB 1912 would remove the requirement that the district must immediately shutter schools and give it another year to come up with a sound financial plan.
Can the city of Oakland do anything to prevent the school closures?
The city has no jurisdiction over the school district but can make its opinion heard on the matter.
Some Oakland City Council members have urged Gov. Gavin Newsom to forgive the district’s $30 million debt to the state. That’s how much money Oakland Unified still owes from a $100 million state loan granted in 2003 to prevent it from going bankrupt. The district was forced to go under state receivership for several years in exchange for the money.
Does Gov. Gavin Newsom have anything to say about the school board’s decision?
A spokesman for the governor said Wednesday the state wouldn’t challenge Oakland Unified’s decision because there are too many “complexities” involved in the school closures for it to take a stance.
“We rely on our local leaders to make decisions for the community,” said an official in the governor’s office who refused to be identified by name. “It is untenable for us to be able to second-guess these community decisions across all 10,500 schools across the state.”
Staff writers Kayla Jimenez and Shomik Mukherjee contributed to this report.
Source: www.mercurynews.com