In a sudden resignation, Shanthi Gonzales, an Oakland Unified School District board member, has announced that she is stepping down from her position.
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Gonzales explained in a blog post on Monday that she decided to resign from the board seven months before her term was set to expire due to a "core issue" that the district has "refused to take seriously."
"Our core issue is that most schools are not meeting students' academic needs, meaning that students aren't being adequately prepared for their next steps, whether that is middle school, high school or college and career," Gonzales stated. "Students who can't read or do math at grade level often become frustrated and disruptive and many eventually drop out."
The former board member added that the district's efforts to improve school quality have been "inconsistent" and "not nearly ambitious enough," leading to decreased enrollment, budget cuts and school closures.
Gonzales was at the forefront of OUSD board members rallying to close schools across the district due to financial strain from decreasing enrollment.
In February, the Oakland Board of Education voted to close seven schools, merge two more and truncate classes at two others over the next two school years. The decision was met with fierce opposition from community members and faculty, including a hunger strike and multiple protests.
Just last Friday, hundreds of teachers led a one-day strike against the closures.
"I will miss Shanthi’s dedication, courage, and effectiveness as a colleague and leader on the school board. That service was always focused on building a better, more sustainable, more inclusive system of quality schools dedicated to the success of every student, no matter the personal and political costs," said OUSD Board President Dr. Gary Yee in a statement responding to Gonzales' resignation on Monday.
Gonzales resigned before her term was finished, so the Board will have to determine how to fill her District 6 seat for the remainder of the term, which ends in January next year. A decision on how to proceed will likely be made at the next meeting on May 11.
"I want to express my deepest gratitude for her years of service to the city, to OUSD, and to District 6 schools and their students, staff, and families," said Yee. "Shanthi's leadership in the face of challenging circumstances requiring courageous decision making was remarkable and hopeful for our future. I wish her the best in her future endeavors."
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