Now that the Oakland Board of Education has voted to close seven schools, merge two more and truncate classes at two others over the next two school years, the Oakland Unified School District is starting to prepare students, teachers, parents and staff for the changes.
Fewer campuses will shut down than originally proposed after the board narrowly voted in favor of a modified plan early Wednesday morning, with three of the seven board members opposing the measure or abstaining. Yet it appears protests over the closures will continue, with teachers union leadership signaling that legal action, as well as a possible strike, are forthcoming.
Lisa Grant-Dawson, the district’s business officer, said the changes are intended to help alleviate financial and enrollment challenges.
"A school district serves its community, and the community of Oakland has changed demographically," she said in a press conference on Wednesday. “Our enrollment has declined for multiple reasons."
Two schools, Parker K-8 and Community Day School, will close at the end of this term. New Highland Academy and Rise Community Elementary will merge on the Highland campus at the start of the 2022-23 school year, and La Escuelita will become an elementary school after previously teaching kindergarten through eighth grade.
Brookfield Elementary School, Korematsu Discovery Academy, Horace Mann Elementary, Carl B. Munck Elementary and Grass Valley Elementary will all close in 2023, while Hillcrest K-8 will become an elementary school next year.
Preston Thomas, Chief Systems and Services Officer with the district, said on Wednesday the closures and mergers will enable the district to "invest more deeply in those schools" expecting additional students over the next two years.
In the meantime, the district will offer counseling and information sessions for impacted students, families and staff.
"We have, on site right now, people that have been deployed for the emotional support that we know our families, our staff and our students will need to process the decision," Chief Academic Officer Sondra Aguilera said.
That support might only go so far, at least to the Oakland Education Association, which represents nearly 3,000 teachers and district employees.
The union said in a statement on Wednesday afternoon that it will file a legal complaint with the Public Employment Relations Board to challenge the district’s “reckless decision.” Union president Keith Brown said in the statement that he’s “prepared” to call for a strike “if it comes to it.”
"OUSD has the necessary reserves to keep schools running, and that excuse needs to stop now," Brown said.
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