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After much reflection and discussion with my family and friends, I have decided not to seek re-election for the District 4 school board seat this November. This was not an easy decision. Ultimately, it came down to determining how I can best leverage my background and skills as a results-oriented coalition-builder to create the most positive impact for students in Oakland and across California, as well as what's best for my family. I have summarized my experience serving as well as my plan for future service below.
I have learned a great deal over the past four years. Running for office for the first time and serving as a public official in a complex, polarized city with students of wide ranging needs and not enough resources to go around equitably was eye opening. What is abundantly clear is that the conflicts are primarily caused by a lack of resources. Right now, rancor and polarization - over too-few dollars - are our reality. It is an outrage that our students do not have the resources they need, particularly given that we live in a state with one of the largest economies in the world. Yes, in the world.
Fighting over the same pie year after year does not serve our children. Enlarging the pie for all does. And it will only come through state-level policy change.
People often ask me if I knew what I was getting into when I became an OUSD School Board Director. The short answer is no. I could imagine certain slices of the responsibilities and dynamics but it is not possible to fully grasp the realities of being a public official until you actually serve.
I have found some of the duties of a Director to be tremendously uplifting, thanks particularly to our amazing and delightful students and educators. Their determination, grit, humor, creativity and resourcefulness inspire me greatly.
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| Just after an RJ Circle at Bret Harte |
However, much of the time the job is grueling with feedback that is usually charged, often public and sometimes personal...
Nevertheless, I believe serving was worth it and I have no regrets. It gave me a heightened level of sensitivity to the root causes of the challenges and the need for expedited action.
I ran for office because I wanted to be a convener who helped create a significant restorative justice culture shift that benefitted the heart and future of our community - our children. I've focused on ways to attract and retain teachers, improve school culture and climate, and gain more access to resources. In short, my goal has been to help create more CARE (Community Access for Resources and Education) with the whole student at the center.
As a Director, I have studied the issues and pressed for solutions, voiced my opinion at strategic times, and cast my votes by leading with integrity and approaching the work through a restorative lens of equity by:
* Championing significant funding commitments for Restorative Justice that enabled its implementation in some elementary schools and nearly every middle and high school
* Supporting efforts and advocating for greater fiscal transparency and accountability
* Leading an ad hoc legislative taskforce to advocate for budget relief, newcomer and career technical grants and other legislative efforts at various levels of government leading to over $1M of grants/support
* Honoring the spirit of a promise made to my parents by supporting the Oakland Promise
* Advocating for more frequent negotiation sessions to help close the 2015 teacher contract
* Co-leading negotiations to maintain AC Transit supplementary bus service to Skyline, Montera and Community Day
* Being the Board signatory and on the campaign committee for Measure G1 for increasing educator compensation and creating funding for middle school enrichment and positive school culture and climate in 2016. Thanks to the voters, G1 passed and will result in $144M more funds over 12 years
* Co-developing board professional development with top quality instructors to improve board communications and fiscal understanding
* Co-creating new formats for Board community engagement meetings
* Co-creating new processes for recruiting and evaluating a new superintendent and general counsel
* Authoring, sponsoring or supporting policies or revisions related to:
- Board vs. Superintendent's role, student discipline, contract due diligence, human sex trafficking prevention, credit recovery, full and fair funding, Measure A (pre-K) endorsement, Proposition 51, Community Schools city-wide plan and school safety
* Mentoring college and post-grad interns interested in education policy and community engagement
I knew going in that the fiscal issues were going to be challenging but they ended up being even worse than I expected. The Board has been roundly, and in part validly, criticized for inadequate oversight of the district's finances. There have been harsh lessons, for sure. At the same time, the district's financial woes are in large part systemic and go back to Prop 13's passage in the 1970s, long predating anyone currently on the Board. Deficient systems, convoluted procedures and leadership turnover caused the information available to the Board to be flawed and inadequate. We have since learned a great deal and, as a result, a new leadership team is in place and improved oversight and management processes have been implemented.
It is work that should - and will - continue thanks to the Superintendent, her team and Board in collaboration with key stakeholders in the community and in Sacramento. While it will take several years for the District to be sustainable and fiscally vital, I feel confident that we have the right leader in place at the right time to redesign and make our goals possible as long as a collaborative, well-disciplined, focused, informed and steady implementation continue across the District and community. Within the next couple of weeks, I will share my perspective on the qualities I think will be critical for the next School Board Member of District 4 to be a valuable contributor in the important work ahead.
Now here is my big picture view:
No matter how efficient we become, how many cuts we make to central office, how many schools we consolidate, if we don't have more resources from the state - especially with escalating pension costs looming over us - we will never be able to give the children in Oakland and across California the education they need and deserve.
I believe that what we need is full and fair state level educational funding laws that include more flexibility and discretion over revenue generation and fiscal sustainability, along with collaborative, creative, resourceful and constructive thought partnerships. For that reason, I am in the process of forming a coalition of public, non-profit and for-profit sector leaders from across the state, California Leaders for Kids, to help make California a beacon of equitable educational experiences so that California students will be able to compete for 21st century careers. Oth
er states and countries prioritize their students and so must
California.
Thank you for your years of support and for all that you do for kids. I look forward to staying in touch. (Coming soon: calforkids.org)
With deep appreciation and in service
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