Timing matters. Getting relief from OUSD's $6 million per year state loan payment and finding additional ways to fund our fiscally strapped district has been a top priority of mine for several years since we do not have enough resources to provide an equitable education to all OUSD students. Concerned families, students and community members have often inquired on how they can help.

Now is the time. 

Last Monday, we were notified that a budget relief proposal by Assemblymember Autumn Burke for Inglewood is being discussed in the Legislature as part of the budget negotiations. The proposal being discussed as part of budget negotiations does not include Oakland, even though there are many reasons why it should.

It is very important for our State representatives, who represent Oakland, to indicate their support for allowing Oakland to also benefit from the same relief that is being proposed for Inglewood. Below are some talking points that people can use. You can also see OUSD's advocacy alert on its website:  
Advocate for Oakland Students.

Between now and Wednesday, June 6, please call our legislators and let them know you greatly appreciate their support and work on behalf of Oakland's students and then ask them, before June 6, to urgently contact:
(1) the chairs of the Senate and Assembly Budget chairs; and
(2) the Assembly Speaker and President of the Senate to:

Please include Oakland in the same budget relief proposal as Inglewood.

WHO TO CONTACT:

Assembly Member
Tony Thurmond
Capitol: (916) 319-2015
District: (510) 286-1400

Senator Nancy Skinner
Capitol: (916) 445-4009
District: (510) 286-1333

Assembly Member
Rob Bonta
Capitol: (916) 319-2018
District: (510) 286-1670

You can also refer to these talking points re: State Relief Package for OUSD

OUSD needs temporary relief from the State in order to avoid having to make draconian budget reductions that will hurt Oakland students. We SUPPORT the state relief package offered by Assembly Member Burke for Inglewood. As our legislative representative, we are asking for your help in securing state relief for OUSD also.
  • Loan Payment Deferral: Please help OUSD to obtain temporary relief from using $6 million to repay the district's State loan that would otherwise be used to preserve critical, core educational programs and services for Oakland students. We are not asking for loan forgiveness; instead we are asking for a short-term reprieve from the debt while our district leadership develops sounds budget strategies to meet all of our obligations, including repaying our State loan, while preserving quality teaching and learning.
  • Surplus Property: OUSD is currently evaluating ways to optimize the district's schools. Being able to use proceeds from the sale or lease of our capital assets will allow OUSD to neutralize the loan payment deferral and/or retire the State loan.
  • Average Daily Attendance (ADA) Safe Harbor: As a result of the increase in the number of students enrolling in charter schools, OUSD has experienced a significant decline in ADA since the State takeover. This ADA decline has negatively impacted our State funding. Oakland continues to see a steady flow of students enrolling in charter schools. A "hold harmless" provision for OUSD ADA will enable OUSD to make strategic rather than draconian budget choices as we aim to "right size" district operations for the students that we serve.
  • Accountability: I SUPPORT enhanced fiscal and academic accountability measures as part of a temporary State relief package. We think that it makes sense that the State holds OUSD accountable for meeting fiscal and academic benchmarks.
Thank you so much for your support.

With deep appreciation and in service of our students,
For more District-wide information, please  sign up here  for OUSD's newsletters.

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Nina Senn 
School Board Director - District 4 
Oakland Unified School District 
1000 Broadway, Suite 680, Oakland, CA  94607