Activism

Community Unites to Oppose Hostile Takeover of Oakland Schools

In a statement read by her staffer, Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan responded to the demand for $90 million in cuts. “We see this for what it is,” she said. “It’s an obvious move to counter the district’s resistance to closing schools in Oakland. We need all of our schools open. Oakland has seen enough school closings.”

Published

2 years ago

December 23, 2021

Oakland Post

Speakers at a press conference Thursday, Dec. 16, at the school district headquarters in Oakland opposed the hostile takeover of Oakland public schools by L. Karen Monroe of Alameda County and the Fiscal Crisis Management and Assistance Team (FCMAT).Shown (front row, L to R) are Post publisher Paul Cobb, former school board member and civil rights attorney Dan Siegel, civil rights attorney Walter Riley, candidate for Alameda County Supt. of Schools Alysse Castro, Assemblymember Mia Bonta, Holy Names University Vice President Kimberly Mayfield and Oakland Education Association (OEA) President Keith Brown. (Back row, L to R) are the representative of Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan, School Boardmember Mike Hutchinson, former school board member and mayoral candidate Greg Hodge, parent and community activist John Jones III and SEIU VP for classified workers Donneva Reid.

By Post Staff

Speakers at press conference Thursday, in front of the school district headquarters in downtown Oakland demonstrated the determination of a broad coalition of community leaders to oppose the hostile takeover of the school district by L. Karen Monroe of the Alameda County Office of Education and the state-financed nonprofit, the Fiscal Crisis Management and Assistance Team (FCMAT).

The press conference was organized on short notice by the teachers’ union, the Oakland Education Association, and the Oakland Post Salon in response to a recent letter to the district from Supt. Monroe saying the school district must cut $90 million from its budget.

Monroe’s letter also threatened that the salaries of Oakland Supt. Kyla Johnson-Trammell and the school board might be withheld, and the elected school board required to follow the decisions of the unelected staff of FCMAT, which has long pushed for closing neighborhood schools.

OEA President Keith Brown called for solidarity in the face of the current threat. “We stand together today to say we will not let the schools be taken over by FCMAT and the county. We will not go backward to 2003, when we were forced into a $100 million loan and school closures.”

Assemblymember Mia Bonta said, “I stand in solidarity with the district and the children of Oakland. I want to stand with Oakland, our teachers, and our families.”

Boardmember Mike Hutchinson, who has long fought against forced school closures, said Monroe’s letter arrived two weeks after the school board voted that “We are done with school closures.”

“This is retaliation,” he said.

Kimberly Mayfield, dean of the School of Education and vice president of external relations and strategic partnerships at Holy Names University in Oakland, said “We stand in solidarity with Supt. Kyla Johnson-Trammell and the elected school board members who are against the recommendation to cut $90 million from the OUSD’s budget and the takeover of the district.”

John Jones III, parent and community activist, said, “This is an affront, an assault and an attack on our students and our democratic process here. Our students need hope, not a rope that will hold them down.”

Alysse Castro, candidate for Alameda County Supt. of Schools, said, “We cannot cut our way to social justice,” adding that the state and county must not be an obstacle but actively help fix Oakland’s problems.

In a prepared statement, Councilmember Carroll Fife said, this threat to Oakland schools is part of a pattern.

“Private interests want to own our schools, and there is no shortage of high-paid, bureaucratic leaders who would hand the schools to them. They salivate over the money to be taken from OUSD, and people in administrative positions have helped manufacture the problems that would allow takeover. We have to tell them, “HELL NO!”

Emily Filloy, speaking for Educators for Democratic Schools (EDS) said, “EDS opposes the Alameda County Office of Education’s designation of Oakland Unified School District as a Lack of Going Concern. This designation is sudden, hasty and punitive. While there may be concerns regarding the district’s budgetary processes, resorting to FCMAT is not a solution, but a punitive action.”

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Oakland Post: Week of May 8 – 14, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May May 8 – 14, 2024

Published

4 days ago

May 10, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

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S.F. Black Leaders Rally to Protest, Discuss ‘Epidemic’ of Racial Slurs Against Black Students in SF Public School System

Parents at the meeting spoke of their children as no longer feeling safe in school because of bullying and discrimination. Parents also said that reported incidents such as racial slurs and intimidation are not dealt with to their satisfaction and feel ignored.

Published

1 week ago

May 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Rev. Amos C. Brown, president of the San Francisco NAACP and pastor of Third Baptist Church. Photo courtesy Third Baptist Church.

By Carla Thomas

San Francisco’s Third Baptist Church hosted a rally and meeting Sunday to discuss hatred toward African American students of the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD).

Rev. Amos C. Brown, president of the San Francisco NAACP and pastor of Third Baptist Church, along with leadership from local civil rights groups, the city’s faith-based community and Black community leadership convened at the church.

“There has been an epidemic of racial slurs and mistreatment of Black children in our public schools in the city,” said Brown. “This will not be tolerated.”

According to civil rights advocate Mattie Scott, students from elementary to high school have reported an extraordinary amount of racial slurs directed at them.

“There is a surge of overt racism in the schools, and our children should not be subjected to this,” said Scott. “Students are in school to learn, develop, and grow, not be hated on,” said Scott. “The parents of the children feel they have not received the support necessary to protect their children.”

Attendees were briefed last Friday in a meeting with SFUSD Superintendent Dr. Matt Wayne.

SFUSD states that their policies protect children and they are not at liberty to publicly discuss the issues to protect the children’s privacy.

Some parents said they have removed their students from school while other parents and community leaders called on the removal of the SFUSD superintendent, the firing of certain school principals and the need for more supportive school board members.

Community advocates discussed boycotting the schools and creating Freedom Schools led by Black leaders and educators, reassuring parents that their child’s wellbeing and education are the highest priority and youth are not to be disrupted by racism or policies that don’t support them.

Virginia Marshall, chair of the San Francisco NAACP’s education committee, offered encouragement to the parents and students in attendance while also announcing an upcoming May 14 school board meeting to demand accountability over their mistreatment.

“I’m urging anyone that cares about our students to pack the May 14 school board meeting,” said Marshall.

This resource was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library via California Black Media as part of the Stop the Hate Program. The program is supported by partnership with California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.

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Oakland Ambassadors Strengthen Ties and Aid Efforts in Ghana

Oakland natives and esteemed members of the African American Sports and Entertainment Group (AASEG), Jonathan P. Jones and Dr. Maritony Efua Jones, recently embarked on a significant journey to Ghana as guests of the World Martial Authority Ghana. This trip signifies a crucial opportunity to bolster partnerships, explore new avenues of collaboration, and contribute to impactful initiatives in Ghana.

Published

1 week ago

May 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Elder Jorg Klebingat, Flint Mensah, Richard Burton, H.E. Dr. Maritony Jones, Amb. Jonathan Jones, Elder S. Gifford Nielsen, Elder Alfred Kyungu. Courtesy photo.

By Post Staff

This trip signifies a crucial opportunity to bolster partnerships, explore new avenues of collaboration, and contribute to impactful initiatives in Ghana.

Upon their arrival at Katota Airport in Accra, Ghana, the Joneses were warmly received by His Royal Majesty Okatakyie Asafo Boakye III, the distinguished king of Sanzule Kingdom in the Eastern Nzema, and Etse Nyamedi of World Martial Authority, Ghana.

Nyamedi accompanied the Joneses to the city of Mepe, which had recently experienced flooding, to assess damages and engage with local leaders, elders, and youth regarding the city’s urgent needs after major floods last fall.

Key concerns and priorities identified by the community include comprehensive flood mitigation measures, agricultural support, housing initiatives, educational enhancements, improved healthcare access, and the development of communal recreational spaces.

The Joneses were also graciously invited to meet with leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at their headquarters in Accra. This meeting provided insights into ongoing humanitarian efforts in Ghana and explored avenues for collaboration to further assist Ghanaian communities.

The LDS leaders shared their prompt response to the recent flood, demonstrating their commitment to humanitarian aid by dispatching substantial supplies including medical provisions, sanitation items, blankets, and food to assist flood victims just four days after the disaster.

Additionally, Boakye extended a special invitation to the Joneses to his palace, where they were pleasantly surprised with a heartfelt recognition ceremony. Maritony Jones was honored as the Queen Mother of the Sanzule Kingdom in acknowledgment of her dedicated work, while Jonathan Jones was lauded and welcomed as the ambassador of the Sanzule Kingdom, symbolizing a meaningful homecoming to their ancestral land.

The visit not only strengthens ties between Oakland and Ghana but also underscores the collaborative spirit and commitment to meaningful progress and humanitarian endeavors shared by all involved parties.