Comments on: Candidates — and endorsements — in Oakland school board races

By: J.R.

J.R. — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 19:48:21 +0000

Momof1 wrote,
“She is among the most unprepared, inarticulate, unintelligible directors sitting on that board presently”.
You really have to split hairs to say that, she is far from the worst. Everyone on that board has an agenda, and looking at the results not one of them seemingly understands real-world economics and or budgeting(although Dobbins and Yee should). There are too many community activists with questionable degrees that have no real world application. Voters need to look closely at qualifications( but maybe that is asking to much from a substantial number of the voting public. We reap what we sow!

By: momaof1

momaof1 — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 18:58:31 +0000

GO support Ms. Hinton-Hodge???
She is not a parent in the oakland public schools – by her own admission!
She is among the most unprepared, inarticulate, unintelligible directors sitting on that board presently. I have never been more disappointed in her representation of “all the children of Oakland” stance when her action have done nothing but show that she is only focused on her part of the city.
During some of the most divisive times last fall, she called parents’ choices – to their faces – “disappointing” because they did not fit her visions, and resorted to name-calling and denigrating parents at some of the only elementary schools that provide the results needed for Oakland’s children.

Further, she is a fervent supporter of charter schools and organizations, which are bleeding this district of it’s limited financial resources, while not honoring any of their debts and failures in any measurable consequences.

After the closure debacles last year, can we truly trust an endorsement such as Go just put forth, for a present member of of the Board of Education, and call themselves impartial???
Go has an agenda and it’s not for the greater good at all.

Shame on Go Oakland Schools for supporting for re-election such an obvious failure in leadership !!!!!

By: Cranky Teacher

Cranky Teacher — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 20:06:21 +0000

Interesting that GO endorsed the school board member most associated with repeated and public teacher bashing: Jumoke Hinton Hodge

By: Jim Mordecai

Jim Mordecai — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 01:11:37 +0000

I’ve posted below the 6/4/12 agenda for the Rules and Ethics Committee.

Do any of the candidates, or their supporters, have an opinion on these documents?

Or, perhaps they haven’t a clue having not done their homework about the Board’s Governance Handbook, its Theory of Action (based on Theory of Action from the book authored by Don Adams, formerly President of the Houston School Board), Board policies and proposal before the Committee to repeal the Coherent Governance policies.

Agenda
11-2784 Governance Handbook
Adoption by Board of Education of Governance Handbook.
Attachments: 11-2784 – Governance Handbook.pdf
Legislative History
10/12/11 Board of Education Tabled
12-1159 Theory of Action
Discussion and possible recommendation(s) of revision of Oakland Unified School
District’s Theory of Action (adopted by the Board on 12/14/11).
Attachments: 12-1159 Theory of Action
12-1279 Board Bylaws and Policies
Review and possible recommendations by Committee regarding Board Bylaws (9000
Series), Board Policies (0000-7000 Series including embedding Goals for Student
Achievement) and repeal of Coherent Governance Policies.
12-1279 Board Bylaws and Policies
12-1279 Proposed Actions for 6_4_12 Rules Committee

By: Elliot

Elliot — Thu, 31 May 2012 23:26:42 +0000

It’s so exciting to see so many strong advocates for students stepping up in Oakland! GO looks to have been thoughtful and thorough in their decisions, and all three of these individuals seem like the type of leaders who will put the interests of students front and center, and keep pushing Oakland education in the right direction!

By: Jordan

Jordan — Thu, 31 May 2012 23:07:53 +0000

I attended GO’s endorsement interviews for the District 3 candidates, and I’m very pleased with GO’s endorsements. I was particularly impressed by Sheilagh Polk, who spoke with amazing passion about the conditions at her daughter’s school, and the broader context of her West Oakland neighborhood. Unfortunately, I live just outside of District 3 and won’t be able to vote for Sheilagh, but I’ll do all I can to assure she is elected in November.

By: Mary

Mary — Thu, 31 May 2012 23:07:19 +0000

It’s great to see so much interest in school board! In a healthy democracy, there are challengers to incumbents, and elections stir robust debates about the direction of the district/city. There is a candidate for District 5, Rosie Torres. She is an attorney and a parent. I heard her speak and was impressed.

By: James

James — Thu, 31 May 2012 22:46:51 +0000

I imagine this was a tough decision! I was impressed by all three of the endorsed candidates and would be thrilled to have any of them on the board. At our interview day, all three spoke with passion about the need to reform OUSD to ensure that it meets the needs of our kids. These are the candidates we need to push Oakland forward for ALL children, working in partnership with OEA and charters alike. Good luck!