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Despite the news coming out of D.C. and our own local challenges related to OUSD's budget and Superintendent leadership transition, OUSD persists in putting students first. Without skipping a beat, Dr. Devin Dillon, started as the Interim Superintendent on February 1. She spends every morning at a school to stay close to our top priority - students.
The Board has been working in collaboration with Dr. Dillon to arrive at Budget priorities for 2017-18 that prioritize funds to schools sites and has also begun a search for a permanent Superintendent.
The first week of February featured Read Ins across the City in recognition of African American History. A huge thanks to the many volunteer readers that came out to read to our students including Oakland A's staff and their beloved mascot, Stomper. He made so many children full of joy and excited about reading that I gave Stomper a big hug too!
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Stomper with Ms. Lee's TK class at Allendale
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If you are interested in ways to make difference and to help our students, please check out the Oakland Public Education Fund.
In Service,
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Budget Priorities
Oakland Unified School District continues to prioritize investments that put resources closest to students and, as a result, the Board decided that even though the District is facing budget cuts, there will be NO cuts to school site budgets in 2017-18. Budget cuts will occur at the central office and will be necessary due to an unexpected decline in enrollment, increases in costs related to special education and special education transportation, utilities and food services. The District implemented a district-wide 2016-17 spending protocol in order to rebuild the budget reserve which is currently at only 2%. The Board would like to increase it to 3-4% to cover unforeseen costs due to possible changes in federal funding levels and unfunded priorities and costs. The Board believes that students will continue to accelerate progress so long as future investments align with our Pathway to Excellence plan. This includes effective talent programs, an accountable school district, and quality community schools. To learn more, visit the Superintendent's 2017-18 Revised Budget presentation. If you have further questions, you may refer to the the FAQs.
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| Bret Harte shows its heart and support for its newcomer students. OUSD is a sanctuary district. |
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Governor's Proposal for 2017-18 State Budget
On January 25th, the Governor presented his proposals for the upcoming academic year. The Administration has been warning of slower economic growth, but the passage of Proposition 55 will help maintain education funding by extending the temporary personal income tax increase. It was reported that major political and legislatives challenges are expected to emerge, especially at the federal level. Read more on specific numbers and allocations of the budget here.
The Oakland Promise: Cradle to Career
OUSD wants every child in Oakland to graduate high school with the expectations, resources, and skills to complete college and be successful in the career of their choice. Our goal is to triple the number of college graduates from Oakland within the next ten years. Some notable achievements to date: every Oakland public school kindergartener who started school in 2016 will receive an early college scholarship fund with $100 by the time they finish elementary school; every graduating Oakland high student has access to a free semester at Peralta Community College. As of this January, $25 million was secured for the first four years to operate and execute plans. Learn more here.
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Interim Superintendent and the Superintendent Search
The Board has appointed Dr. Devin Dillon as interim superintendent while the School Board conducts a search for a permanent Superintendent scheduled to start on July 1, 2017. Dr. Dillon's term commenced on February 1. More details on her new position
here
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| In an RJ Circle with Dr. Dillon at East Oakland Pride |
We want to know what qualities that you would like to see in a new superintendent. Please take the online search survey and attend an input session or forum! Information related to the search process is available at: www.ousd.org/superintendentsearch. This includes opportunities for members to have their voices heard in a variety of ways, ranging from open forums, input sessions, and an online survey. The online survey will be available at the link until February 17. Applications for the position will be open from February 27 - March 15. If you are interested, or know someone that would be a good match, we encourage you to apply or refer a candidate.
Pathways and Measure N
Thanks to our generous Oakland voters, Measure N was passed to expand Linked Learning in 2014 and supports work that will reduce high school dropout rates through real world work and learning opportunities, and expand mentoring, tutoring, counseling and student supportive services. Currently, all Oakland high schools are building out their career pathway programs, with the goal of all students participating in an academic program that is linked to what students are interested in doing post-graduation. With Measure N, the base of funding for public schools has expanded to $850 per high school student, which totals to $13 million annually for ten years. 90% of the funding goes towards schools to ensure flexibility in implementation and specialization per school. Learn more here.
A Big Thank You to the Walter and Elise Haas Fund!
The Board has accepted $55,000 in grant awards to create, develop, and pilot a youth worker-to-teacher Oakland After School to Teacher Pipeline Initiative. This project aims to channel after school program workers into teacher credentialing programs to address the teacher shortage in the district through the Community Schools and Student Services Department, beginning November 2016 until November 2017. To learn more on the use of funds and the terms and conditions, click
here
.
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OUSD Dual Language Teachers on Science Standards and Language
On January 27th, representatives from the California Department of Education joined teachers and school leaders for a day of professional learning and planning as part of the Oakland Language Immersion Advancement in Science (OLAS) Project, which seeks to develop school-based leadership in order to further the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards, language development and equity. Details on the activities throughout the day can be found
here
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Kyla Johnson-Trammell Named Interim Deputy Superintendent
On February 1st, Kyla Johnson-Trammell began to serve as Interim Deputy Superintendent of Academic Social Emotional Learning in place of Dr. Devin Dillon while she serves as Interim Superintendent. Ms. Johnson-Trammell was born and raised in East Oakland and attended Montclair Elementary and Montera Middle School. She became a strong advocate for Oakland public schools and has served for more than seventeen years in education.
Learn more
about Johnson-Trammell and her duties in her new position.
38th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Oratorical Festival
At this year's festival, OUSD students performed published poetry, original poetry, speech and and drama in remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr. and his legacy. As thoughtful, talented, and passionate students, they spoke about equality, equity, justice, and race in the midst of this important time in history. The competition will resume for the final round on February 26 from 1-5pm.
See the super cute Sequoia students at their school oratorical below:
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Board of Education and District 4 School Meetings/Events
February 15th
Celebration of Middle School Excellence
Roosevelt Middle School, 1926 East 19th Street, Oakland @ 11 a.m.
February 15th
Oakland Promise Community Report
Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School, 960 10th St., Oakland @ 4:00-6:30 p.m.
February 15th
Montera: PTO Meeting @ 7pm: "Meet and Greet Interim Superintendent and Budget Town Hall"
February 16th
Montera: SSC Meeting @ 6pm
February 16th
Redwood Heights: PTA Meeting @ 6pm
February 17th
Montera's "Brother-to-Brother Conference
for the Empowerment of the African American Male" . The mission of the gathering is to inspire our students to develop, guide and realize their full potential by making the right choices and going after all that is possible.
February 20th
Skyline Students' Performance of "Brooklyn High" @ 7 pm
Shotgun Players Ashby Stage
1901 Ashby Ave., Berkeley, CA Free parking @ Ashby BART 20 ft away
February 21st
Sequoia: SSC Meeting @ 5pm
February 21st
Thornhill: PFC Meeting @ 6pm
February 22nd - Board of Education Meeting @ 5pm
Oakland City Hall, City Council Chamber, 3rd Floor
1 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland, CA
February 22nd
Redwood Heights: SSC Meeting @ 5:15pm
February 23rd - Expanded Learning Symposium
Partnership for Children and Youth (PCY) Workshops
University of California Berkeley, Clark Kerr Campus 2601 Warring Street, Berkeley, CA 94720
February 23rd
Sequoia: Health Start Winter Showcase @ 5:30pm
February 24th
Horace Mann: SSC Meeting @ 3pm
February 26th
Redwood Heights: Movie Day at the Parkway @ 12:30pm
February 26th
Skyline High School: 38th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Oratorical @ 1- 5 pm
February 27th
Montclair: SSC Meeting @ 3pm
(Please send me school/community events and photos that you would like included in this newsletter.)
Ms. Diaz's 3rd graders at Horace Mann voted for: "When Harriet met Sojourner" by Catherine Clinton (a special gift from my Uncle Chuck to my children) during a Read In for African American History month. Because they were great listeners they were rewarded with a special visit from "Leo the Lightning Bug" too.
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For more District-wide information, please
sign up here
for OUSD's newsletters.
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Nina Senn, Vice President & Director - District 4,
Oakland Unified School District,
1000 Broadway, Oakland, CA
94607
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