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Medical Professionals Call on Oakland School Leaders to Increase COVID-19 Protections for Children, Teachers and Families

The following letter was sent by medical professionals and community leaders on Aug. 9, 2021 to Oakland the Oakland Unified School District Superintendent and school board members.

Published

5 years ago

August 13, 2021

Christy Price

Ivan Aleksic/ Unsplash

The following letter was sent by medical professionals and community leaders on Aug. 9, 2021 to Oakland the Oakland Unified School District Superintendent and school board members.

Oakland Unified School District appears to be on the verge of reopening its schools to full capacity, even though the best available data indicates that the spread of COVID‐19 is quickening and expanding, particularly in several of the city’s most vulnerable neighborhoods.

Because marginalized communities suffer compromised health even in the best of times, it appears inevitable that Oakland’s Black and Brown youth and their families will disproportionately bear the brunt of new infections, and increased morbidity and mortality.
We write to pose some essential questions, the answers to which will reflect the degree to which elected leaders of the school board are willing and prepared to take the steps necessary to protect the well‐being of some of the most vulnerable among us.

Choices the school board makes with respect to COVID‐19 cannot be divorced from the demands for equity that are sweeping the nation for the simple fact that health vulnerabilities of our communities of color can, in many instances, be traced back to and are deeply rooted in generations of unjust oppression, unequal access to opportunity, and undeniable neglect at the hands of both the public and private sectors.

To be sure, OUSD’s actions in the 2020‐21 school year to quickly pivot to distance and then hybrid learning are to be commended. Swift action to suspend in‐person instruction and equip students for distance learning surely saved lives, and courageously modeled for an entire nation principle of self‐sacrifice and equity.

But these important achievements risk being squandered.

First, an adequate plan for regular and targeted COVID‐19 testing has yet to be implemented.
“Recommended testing” at one of “10 OUSD locations” on a voluntary basis for symptomatic and exposed teachers, students and families, is wholly inadequate.

That teachers are not required to undergo routine testing or demonstrate proof of vaccination despite spending hours indoors (especially) with unvaccinated children is unfathomable, particularly since the Delta viral strain is transmitted more easily modeling in support of that case.

Only when this is done, can the public ‐- the individuals, organizations, businesses, agencies and elected officials that rely upon the expertise of public health professionals ‐- adequately assess their options and make decisions appropriate to their needs and consistent with their appetite for risk.

If Oakland parents and students must choose between at‐home/distance learning and
exposure to a serious illness that could prove fatal to themselves or loved ones, then they should be provided information about the relative risks of their options so that they can debate and shape the types and timing of trade‐offs being asked of them during this ordeal.
At a minimum we insist that the school board require:

Symptomatic students, staff and teachers isolate and test negative before presenting to any
school site

Every school site have supplies and staff for onsite COVID‐19 testing
All unvaccinated teachers and staff undergo at least weekly mandatory testing
All unvaccinated teachers and staff wear N95 masks at all times

The following data points be included on the OUSD Dashboard:

Ventilation strategy being utilized at each school site
Distancing guideline(s) being observed at each school site for each common area
(classrooms, hallways, multi‐use rooms)
Percentage of vaccinated teachers and staff at each school site
Notification of each COVID‐19 outbreak with number of student and teacher/staff cases

As community leaders and physicians. we stand ready to serve as not only accountability partners, but as a resource to help ensure the health and well‐being of our dedicated teachers and school staff, and the safety of our children.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to us for additional information or if we can be
of assistance. We look forward to hearing from you.

Signed:
Sherilynn Cooke, MD, president, Sinkler Miller Medical Association
Noha Aboelata, MD, CEO, Roots Community Health Center
Donna White Carey, MD, executive pastor, True Vine Ministries
Aisha Mays, MD, director of Adolescent and School Based Programs, Roots Community Health Center
Kim F. Rhoads, MD, MS, MPH, Assoc. Prof. of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Founding Dir., Umoja Health
Damon Francis, MD, Health Committee, Brotherhood of Elders Network
Gregory Hodge, chief network officer, Brotherhood of Elders Network
Pecolia Manigo Awobodu, executive director, Bay Area Parent Leadership Action Network
Donald Frasier, executive director, Building Opportunities for Self‐Sufficiency
Pastor Michael McBride, national director, LIVE FREE Project
Carolyn (CJ) Johnson, CEO, Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation
Candice Elder, founder and executive Director, East Oakland Collective
Tanya Dennis, Oakland Frontline Healers Coalition

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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CITY OF SAN LEANDRO STATE OF CALIFORNIA PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ENGINEERING DIVISION NOTICE TO BIDDERS FOR ANNUAL STREET OVERLAY/REHABILITATION 2019-21 – PHASE III

WORK DESCRIPTION: The work to be done consists of roadway paving, base cement stabilization, concrete curb ramps, driveways, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, traffic detection loops and pavement striping, and doing all appurtenant work in place and ready for use, all as shown on the plans and described in the specifications with the title indicated in Paragraph 1 above, and on file in the office of the City Engineer. Reference to said plans and specifications is hereby made for further particulars.

Published

6 days ago

February 20, 2026

Oakland Post

PROJECT NO. 2020.0050

BID NO. 25-26.011

BID OPENING: The bidder shall complete the “Proposal to the City of San Leandro” form contained in the Contract Book. The proposal shall be submitted in its entirety. Incomplete proposals will be considered non-responsive. Sealed bids containing the completed Proposal Section subject to the conditions named herein and in the specifications for ANNUAL STREET OVERLAY/REHABILITATION 2019-21 – PHASE III/PROJECT NO. 2020.0050 addressed to the City of San Leandro will be received at City Hall, 835 East 14^th Street, 2^nd Floor San Leandro at the office of the City Clerk up to 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at which time they will be publicly opened and read.
WORK DESCRIPTION: The work to be done consists of roadway paving, base cement stabilization, concrete curb ramps, driveways, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, traffic detection loops and pavement striping, and doing all appurtenant work in place and ready for use, all as shown on the plans and described in the specifications with the title indicated in Paragraph 1 above, and on file in the office of the City Engineer. Reference to said plans and specifications is hereby made for further particulars.
OBTAINING THE PROJECT PLANS AND CONTRACT BOOK: The project plans and Contract Book may be obtained free of charge from the City’s website at:https://www.sanleandro.org/Bids.aspx Bidders who download the plans are encouraged to contact the City of San Leandro Public Works Department Engineering division at 510-577-3428 to be placed on the project planholder’s list to receive courtesy notifications of addenda and other project information. Project addenda, if any, will be posted on the website. A bidder who fails to address all project addenda in its proposal may be deemed non-responsive.Bidders may also purchase the Project Plans and Contract Book from East Bay Blueprint & Supply Co., at 1745 14^th Street, Oakland, CA 94606; Phone Number: (510) 261-2990 or email: ebbp@eastbayblueprint.com.
PRE-BID CONFERENCE: A mandatory pre-bid conference will be held on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 2:00 PM and on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 10:00 AM as follows:
Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 2:00 PM
Zoom Meeting ID: 883 8752 6074
Passcode: 502955
Zoom Link: https://sanleandro-org.zoom.us/j/88387526074?pwd=hZ5rjB8AWdLAUem3CtByFiZxqKarHj.1
And
Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 10:00 AM
Zoom Meeting ID: 898 2672 0472
Passcode: 091848
Zoom Link: https://sanleandro-org.zoom.us/j/89826720472?pwd=JgZX2nXMpLSRM5xDPr7EJUxl7QIznr.1The information presented at the conferences will be identical, all bidders must attend one of the pre-bid conference and sign the attendance sheet. A firm that didn’t attend the pre-bid conference isn’t qualified to bid on the project.Questions regarding the plans and specifications may be submitted in writing to the project engineer until 5:00 p.m. five (5) days before, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays, bids must be received by the City. The City will not respond to oral questions outside of the pre-bid conference. The response, if any, will be by written addendum only. Oral responses do not constitute a revision to these plans or specifications.
VALUE OF WORK: The Engineer has estimated that the value of work is between $1,000,000 and $5,000,000.
SAN LEANDRO BUSINESS PREFERENCE AND PARTICIPATION GOALS: The work performed under this contract is subject to Section 1-6-225 of the San Leandro Municipal Code regarding local business preference and participation. A list of companies that hold a San Leandro business license is located on the City webpage under the finance department, here: https://www.sanleandro.org/340/Business-License
SAN LEANDRO COMMUNITY WORKFORCE AGREEMENT: The work performed under this contract is subject to the Community Workforce Agreement adopted by City Council Resolution 2015-104. Contractors attention is directed to Section 10.

Dated: February 13, 2026 Sarah Bunting, City Clerk

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Oakland Post: Week of February 11 = 17, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 11 – 17, 2026

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1 week ago

February 16, 2026

Oakland Post

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Rising Optimism Among Small And Middle Market Business Leaders Suggests Growth for California

“Business leaders across the Pacific region continue to demonstrate a unique blend of resilience and forward-thinking, even in the face of ongoing economic uncertainty,” said Brennon Crist, Managing Director and Head of the Pacific Segment, Commercial Banking, J.P. Morgan. “Their commitment to innovation and growth is evident in the way they adapt to challenges and seize new opportunities. It’s this spirit that keeps our region at the forefront of business leadership and progress. We look forward to helping our clients navigate all that’s ahead in 2026.”

Published

2 weeks ago

February 14, 2026

Oakland Post

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Sponsored by JPMorganChase

Business optimism is returning for small and midsize business leaders at the start of 2026, fueling confidence and growth plans.

The 2026 Business Leaders Outlook survey, released in January by JPMorganChase reveals a turnaround from last June, when economic headwinds and uncertainty about shifting policies and tariffs caused some leaders to put their business plans on hold.

Midsize companies, who often find themselves more exposed to geopolitical shifts and policy changes, experienced a significant dip in business and economic confidence in June of 2025. As they have become more comfortable with the complexities of today’s environment, we are seeing optimism rebounding in the middle market nationwide – an encouraging sign for growth, hiring, and innovation. Small businesses, meanwhile, maintained steady optimism throughout 2025, but they aren’t shielded from domestic concerns. Many cited inflation and wage pressures as the top challenges for 2026 and are taking steps to ensure their businesses are prepared for what’s ahead.

Overall, both small and midsize business leaders are feeling more confident to pursue growth opportunities, embrace emerging technologies and, in some cases, forge new strategic partnerships. That bodes well for entrepreneurs in California. Here are a few other key findings from the Business Leaders Outlook about trends expected to drive activity this year:

Inflation remains the top concern for small business owners. Following the 2024 U.S. presidential election, many anticipated a favorable business environment. By June 2025, however, that feeling shifted amid concerns about political dynamics, tariffs, evolving regulations and global economic headwinds.
Going into 2026, 37% of respondents cited inflation as their top concern. Rising taxes came in second at 27% and the impact of tariffs was third at 22%. Other concerns included managing cash flow, hiring and labor costs.

For middle market leaders, uncertainty remains an issue. Almost half (49%) of all midsize business leaders surveyed cited “economic uncertainty” as their top concern – even with an improved outlook from a few months ago. Revenue and sales growth was second at 33%, while tariffs and labor both were third at 31%.
And tariffs are impacting businesses costs. Sixty-one percent of midsize business leaders said tariffs have had a negative impact on the cost of doing business.
Despite challenges, leaders are bullish on their own enterprises. Though the overall outlook is mixed, 74% of small business owners and 71% of middle market companies are optimistic about their company’s prospects for 2026.
Adaption is the theme. For small business owners surveyed across the U.S., responding to continuing pressures is important in 2026. Building cash reserves (47%), renegotiating supplier terms (36%) and ramping up investments in marketing and technology are among the top priorities.
Big plans are on the horizon. A majority midsized company leaders expect revenue growth this year, and nearly three out of five of (58%) plan to introduce new products or services in the coming year, while 53% look to expand into new domestic and/or international markets. Forty-nine percentsay they’re pursuing strategic partnerships or investments.

The bottom line

Rebounding optimism among U.S. business leaders at the start of the year is setting the stage for an active 2026. With business leaders looking to implement ambitious growth plans that position themselves for the future, momentum in California could be beneficial for leaders looking to launch, grow or scale their business this year.