OUSD’s budget crisis is playing out in slow motion in the public eye. Understanding the district's options starts with understanding how OUSD is funded.
I apologize if this is inappropriate but I couldnt not add this comment in relation to student enrollment and attendance :
"Between October and December 2023, at least 30 transfer requests specifically due to issues related to the conflict were approved. In a later period from March to May 2024, Piedmont district received 261 transfer requests, a jump from 86 during a similar period the previous year, driven in part by Jewish families leaving Oakland."
The conflict above resulted from the October 7th HAMAS attack on Israel. Staff at OUSD held teach-ins and modified curriculum that led to a hostile environment for Jewish students.
Moreover, the California Department of Education's (CDE) investigation determined that OUSD created a "discriminatory environment" for Jewish students in several instances.
Besides OUSD, most of the Oakland City Council, especially Rebecca Kaplan and Nikki "For All of Us" Bas, remained silent when their friends *praised* HAMAS in a city meeting.
Oakland City Hall and OUSD preach diversity and respect but they do not apply that to Jews.
Thanks Scott! Agreed that the grand jury report (and the grand jury reports in general) are a great resource. Will definitely be considering this in subsequent pieces.
I apologize if this is inappropriate but I couldnt not add this comment in relation to student enrollment and attendance :
"Between October and December 2023, at least 30 transfer requests specifically due to issues related to the conflict were approved. In a later period from March to May 2024, Piedmont district received 261 transfer requests, a jump from 86 during a similar period the previous year, driven in part by Jewish families leaving Oakland."
The conflict above resulted from the October 7th HAMAS attack on Israel. Staff at OUSD held teach-ins and modified curriculum that led to a hostile environment for Jewish students.
Moreover, the California Department of Education's (CDE) investigation determined that OUSD created a "discriminatory environment" for Jewish students in several instances.
Besides OUSD, most of the Oakland City Council, especially Rebecca Kaplan and Nikki "For All of Us" Bas, remained silent when their friends *praised* HAMAS in a city meeting.
Oakland City Hall and OUSD preach diversity and respect but they do not apply that to Jews.
Good to have the basics on OUSD funding. There is a lot of mythology repeated in debates on OUSD - nice to have a level set. For more "color" on OUSD governance and funding, grand jury report is very good IMO https://grandjury.acgov.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/OUSD-Broken-Culture.FR-2.pdf
Thanks Scott! Agreed that the grand jury report (and the grand jury reports in general) are a great resource. Will definitely be considering this in subsequent pieces.
Ok Bob. Keep up the work for Oak Report. It is very much needed..... cheers
Super helpful coverage, Bob. I hope your next one will focus on the expenditures side! And thanks for pointing out the Grand Jury report, Scott.
Thanks Troy! Yes, that's next in the pipeline.