Education

School Advocate Finds Oakland Schools Lost Money by Closing Roots, Kaiser and Other Schools

OUSD claims but shows no proof that closing more schools would save $2 million.

Published

5 years ago

October 22, 2021

Students, teachers and parents at Roots Academy protest at School Board meetings in January 2019, opposing district decision to close their school. Photo courtesy of Oakland North.

A community education advocate has written a public letter using district data to show that the Oakland school district did not save money but instead lost over $700,000 when it closed two well-loved elementary schools.

Carol Delton, a community education advocate who has dedicated a lot of her time to keeping track of Oakland school district’s finances, has raised disturbing questions about the lack of transparency, accountability and seemingly inaccurate budget numbers that the district and its hands-on overseers at the Alameda County Office of Education, the Fiscal Crisis Management and Assistance Team (FCMAT) and the State Department of Finance are using to force the district to close schools and gut school site educational programs.

Delton, a retired school-based speech pathologist and Oakland resident, wrote an open letter October 17 to the OUSD school board and superintendent, questioning a proposal to cut $2 million from next year’s school budget to make up for savings that would be supposedly lost if the district does not go ahead with a plan to close more schools in 2022-2023.

Countering that proposal, Delton found that the district’s own documents show that the district has lost money when it closes schools. One document, released last May, showed that changes in facilities when (Cohort 1 and Cohort 2) schools were closed, the net costs to the district, including facilities costs, were $700,896.33.

In addition, the district lost state revenue when students left the school district amid the closures and mergers. According to one report, the closures meant that the district lost 9% or 14 students from Roots Academy, 17% or 37 students from Kaiser Elementary and 15% or 14 students from Oakland SOL.

“Without counting the loss of siblings to OUSD enrollment and without counting other students whose loss from the district may not have been presented, students leaving the district from just those three schools approaches a million-dollar loss … funding that has not been factored in,” wrote Delton in her open letter.

“As a result, it is difficult for me to believe that any plan of closures and mergers could result in a $2 million savings,” Delton wrote.

Looking at the pattern of nearly 20 years of school closings forced on the district by its overseers, Delton wrote, “It was clear that in years when OUSD closed schools, the district lost enrollment and in years when OUSD did not close schools, enrollment was up.”

Further, she said she saw that the district presented rosy projections that were not realized when it decided to close these schools. For example, looking at the projection prior to the Kaiser closure, “you will … see under-projections of enrollment loss.”

“Please consider that the enrollment loss pattern for this year that seems to be emerging would be 400% worse if it followed the percentages of district enrollment loss occasioned by recent closure/mergers.”

Delton also looked at the lack of transparency of these financial decisions, which makes it difficult for her and other members of the public to look at what the district is doing with public money.

“I am deeply concerned about the proposal to cut $2 million from the 2022-23 budget … has had ZERO public exposure and ZERO committee discussion before it comes to the board for a vote,” she wrote.

“While it was announced as Item G-1 of the 10/14/2021 Budget and Finance Committee Meeting, no documents were ever posted and, at the meeting, the Committee Chair announced the discussion would not take place and that she was receiving messages about running over time.” Delton wrote.

The Post requested the district respond to the issues raised by Delton in her letter. Here is the response the Post received on Wednesday, October 20:

“Rather than consolidating schools, the Board of Education has elected to cut $2 million in ongoing expenditures from the 2022-23 budget. On Oct. 27, the Board will decide how to make those reductions,” the district wrote.

“The Board and Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell and her team have been transparent about the financial issues that face the district. We appreciate input from all stakeholders including students, staff, families, and members of the community.”

Community members who would like to follow the OUSD Board discussion can attend the meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021, in person or on Zoom. Delton’s letter is available online at www.postnewsgroup.com

The Oakland Post’s coverage of local news in Alameda County is supported by the Ethnic Media Sustainability Initiative, a program created by California Black Media and Ethnic Media Services to support community newspapers across California.

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Black History

Opinion: When Politicians Start Sanitizing One Chapter of History, They’re Coming After The Whole Book

OAKLAND POST — The White House recently released a report criticizing the Smithsonian for supposedly promoting “anti-White activism” and other ideological sins. Buried inside is something even more troubling. The report argues Americans shouldn’t think of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 primarily as a racist law. Instead, we’re told it was about national security.

Published

12 hours ago

July 26, 2026

bpusa-syndication

AI-generated illustration created by Open AI.

By Emil Amok Guillermo

I came to Winnipeg to perform my one-man show, 69, Emil Amok: Anchorman—The News Made Me Do It.

I didn’t expect to leave with another lesson about America.

It came over dim sum.

After the show, Shirley—a Chinese Canadian—and her friend Chris, a Sri Lankan-Mauritian Canadian—insisted on taking me to a restaurant in Winnipeg’s Chinatown.

A Filipino American. A Chinese Canadian. A Sri Lankan-Mauritian Canadian.

The United Nations, if it served dumplings.

Then Shirley told me about her father.

He arrived from China at 14 years old, speaking no English. The school put him in second grade just to learn the language. Once he caught up, they skipped him to ninth grade.

Two years later, he was working.

He opened a restaurant.

It burned down.

He opened another.

Eventually he bought a café in rural Manitoba serving chop suey, burgers, steaks and fries.

The Good Way Café became the place everybody gathered. Rock and roll played from the jukebox until midnight.

Her father, Arthur Mar, built a business, employed people and became part of his community.

Sound familiar?

It should.

It’s the same immigrant story Americans love to celebrate.

Until politics gets involved.

Because before Arthur Mar could build anything, Canada made him pay a $500 Chinese head tax—a fortune in the 1920s.

When that didn’t keep enough Chinese out, Canada passed its own Chinese Exclusion Act.

Different country.

Same racism.

Canada has spent decades admitting what it did.

The Trump administration wants America to do the opposite.

The White House recently released a report criticizing the Smithsonian for supposedly promoting “anti-White activism” and other ideological sins.

Buried inside is something even more troubling.

The report argues Americans shouldn’t think of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 primarily as a racist law.

Instead, we’re told it was about national security.

Funny how those two words have always been available whenever politicians want to discriminate against somebody.

Black Americans have heard that song before.

Slave patrols became public safety.

Jim Crow became states’ rights.

Mass incarceration became law and order.

Same melody.

Different verse.

History has a way of putting racism in a respectable suit.

When politicians begin sanitizing one chapter of history, they’re coming after the whole book.

Communities of color don’t have identical histories.

But we recognize familiar tactics.

About the Author

Emil Guillermo is an award-winning journalist, commentator and comic monologist. He performs “69, Emil Amok: Anchorman—The News Made Me Do It” at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, July 16–26.

Get Tix: https://www.winnipegfringe.com/performer-detail.aspx?kw=Emil+Amok+Productions

Follow him at YouTube.com/@emilamok1.

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Community

Rep. Garamendi, House Democrats Demand Trump Administration Abandon Illegal Plans to Dismantle Civil Rights, Special Ed Offices

OAKLAND POST — “The law is clear: Congress created OCR and OSERS and Congress alone can eliminate them. The use of Interagency Agreements to accomplish your ‘final mission’ – to eliminate the Department in all but name – is counter to the will of Congress and rests on questionable legal ground. Even Congressional Republicans have expressed reservations and attempted to keep money appropriated to the Department within the Department, rather than being outsourced through IAAs…,” the members of Con

Published

13 hours ago

July 26, 2026

bpusa-syndication

By Post Staff

Congressman John Garamendi (CA-08) joined 85 House Democrats this week calling on the Department of Education to immediately abandon its plan to transfer the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

In their letter, the members argued that the Trump Administration’s plan to dismantle OCR and OSERS through Interagency Agreements (IAAs) is unlawful because Congress established both offices and only Congress has the authority to eliminate them or alter their responsibilities.

“The law is clear: Congress created OCR and OSERS and Congress alone can eliminate them. The use of Interagency Agreements to accomplish your ‘final mission’ – to eliminate the Department in all but name – is counter to the will of Congress and rests on questionable legal ground. Even Congressional Republicans have expressed reservations and attempted to keep money appropriated to the Department within the Department, rather than being outsourced through IAAs…,” the members of Congress wrote.

The members also warned that transferring OCR and OSERS functions would weaken services for students, families, and individuals with disabilities because DOJ and HHS are ill-equipped to carry out the offices’ core functions.

“The movement of OCR and OSERS also disrespects the very people who rely on those services. Specifically, these moves effectively segregate special education from the rest of the education system, moving it to an agency that has indicated it intends to treat disabilities as a health issue to be remedied, against the wishes of groups that advocate on behalf of disabled children and their families. Such action is particularly concerning given the inaccurate and harmful comments from the HHS Secretary regarding children diagnosed with autism.

“Comments such as these will leave those relying on special education services fearful about whether their rights will be upheld and their needs met. Regarding OCR, given the sensitive nature of many of the cases it handles, victims may be hesitant to seek support knowing the investigation will be run by the nation’s primary law enforcement agency. Such delays may cause cases of discrimination to fester and worsen while sending the wrong message to vulnerable communities,” concluded the members.

In February, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that the Department of Education paid OCR investigators up to $38 million not to work.

In April, the Senate HELP Committee released a report that in 2025, OCR reached zero resolution agreements involving sexual harassment, sexual violence, seclusion or restraint, racial harassment, or discriminatory school discipline — despite more than 2,700 pending cases.

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Commentary

Free Back-to-School Summer Family and Community Event Is Coming to Richmond

OAKLAND POST — Why is the film important? In 2025, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reported standardized test reading score results of six selected student groups: African American/Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Hispanic, Two or More Races, and White.

Published

14 hours ago

July 26, 2026

bpusa-syndication

By Carol Lee Tolbert

Boost African American and Black student literacy skills this school year by attending the 2026 ‘Right-To-Read’ film viewing on Saturday, Aug. 8, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. An award-winning documentary exposing the literacy crisis impacting many African American and Black students in our public schools.

In the words of the film’s director, “It’s a game changer.” After the audience views this eye-opening film, our experienced panelists will provide information to parents, guardians, and advocates on how to help children become proficient readers, close the literacy gap, and share why literacy matters.

Here is an example of a comment by a past attendee: “Excellent experience!” “The panel was amazing!”

Why is the film important? In 2025, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reported standardized test reading score results of six selected student groups: African American/Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Hispanic, Two or More Races, and White.

Sadly, African American/Black students ranked last in fourth-grade reading scores and 5th in eighth-grade reading scores. So, what’s the big deal? According to NAEP, just 10 points can mean a grade-level difference between two students in the same class!

THE MORNING ALSO INCLUDES: A Backpack Giveaway, Fun Activities for Kids, Breakfast, Lunch, Prizes, and Materials!

To be sure, some African American/Black students are thriving in public schools, but far too many are not – as the data reveals. By watching this inspiring film and hearing from panelists, WCCUSD parents, guardians, and advocates can give children a jumpstart on the 2026-2027 school year. Every child deserves the opportunity to succeed!

This event is sponsored by the Oakland Eastbay Alliance of Black Educators (OEABE), in partnership with Easter Hill United Methodist Church and United Women of Faith.

Pre-register by July 29 at www.oeabe.org. Space is limited. Inquiries can be emailed to oeabe.info@gmail.com. Event location is 3911 Cutting Blvd, Richmond.

About the Author

Carol Lee Tolbert, M.A., M. Ed., is a former School Board Trustee, Education Consultant, and Vice President of OEABE.