Comments on: Oakland school closure savings estimate is missing something

By: Elementary Teacher

Elementary Teacher — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 14:30:15 +0000

@nontcair- I’m curious to know exactly how much these departments directly impact children. For example, someone is sitting trying to figure out how many calories are in school lunches? Have you seen those lunches? They’re not very nutricious and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the younger kids in the school should not get the same amount of food as the older ones, but why don’t they differentiate the food? Teachers are expected to differentiate instruction. And I find it funny that we have a bilingual department that supposedly does testing. Really? I teach at a bilingual school and I had 2 newcomers in my class this year- I’ve never seen anyone outside of our staff and families work with our kids to support their language.

Katy- can you find out more about all these new positions at the district admin levels? I was at trainings this summer and a lot of lci departments have doubled in size and they’ve added more departments/ positions at the district level. I’m guessing any money saved on school closures has been used up.

By: Nontcair

Nontcair — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 21:13:30 +0000

The Optometry Dept tracks the diopters in student glasses. Good eyesight is essential for teaching Johnny how to read.

The Nutrition Dept tracks the number of calories each student consumes in 24 hours. Good eating habits are essential for teaching Johnny how to read.

The Landscaping Dept ensures that the grounds are verdant and tranquil. Pleasant surroundings are essential for teaching Johnny how to read.

No matter how ridiculous the mission some bureaucrat can probably come up with a rationale for why it’s not only necessary but absolutely indispensable.

By: Whole picture

Whole picture — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 20:24:09 +0000

Hi Nontcait,

After school programs provide enrichment and academic programs=supports teaching Johnny how to read.

Bilingual testing, assesses a non native English speaking students English language skills so that
he/she can recurve the English reading and speaking support they need=teaching Johnny how to read.

Translations services translates all community parent info materials, like registration packets, tutoring info etc inton5 languages=supporting teaching Johnny how to read.

Health and Wellness provides health and wellness services, kids have a harder time learning how to read if they are in pain= supporting teaching Johnny how to read.

JJ transition I believe means make sure the child sent to JJ is receiving instruction= teaching Johnny how to read.

By: start over

start over — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 12:52:24 +0000

Sell a couple properties. Pay off debt to the state.

New Contract with all employees that increases salaries, limits long-term liabilities/benefits.

Give all schools 3 years to get their act together or be closed down. Test scores, safety, stability, etc… use whatever metrix makes sense to the school board since they are the people we voted to figure it out. Should be simple. They can spend the 3 years complaining in vain or actually trying to improve the school. Choice is theirs.

Charter Schools should be held to the same standard. District should limit applications and instead, make it a lottery only venture.

Make board members full-time employees

Invite your 15 best principals to go to the 10 worst schools. Let them invite a few teachers to come along – and pay them both bonuses.

Invest heavily in adult ed for parents with kids k-2.
Make parent ed pipeline for district jobs: yard supervision, coaches, cafeteria, etc… even teachers and principals. Why not?

Make k-8 schools commonplace.

Allow teachers to vote on a contract that would pay bonuses for student achievement. Let teachers decide.

Post a security guard outside Tony Smith’s home. Anybody protesting should be given the boot.

By: Nontcair

Nontcair — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 17:10:37 +0000

I'll concede that there are *reasons* though certainly none of them good. The reasons have to do with bureaucracy's natural tendancy to expand and the nature of political institutions to be staffed by friends-of-friends holding secure (lifetime) employment at inflated wages. Why not just use the proceeds to reduce our property tax burden?

By: livegreen

livegreen — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 13:39:54 +0000

There might b a good reason, but I don’t understand why all these services need to b at Lakeview? Where were they before and why do they need a new location?

Also, why not just sell that building and use the proceeds to help OUSD, teachers and students?

By: Mike Hutchinson candidate for Oakland school board district 5

Mike Hutchinson candidate for Oakland school board district 5 — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 19:41:16 +0000

The district has changed there numbers numerous times during the school closure process. It is very difficult to believe any information the district releases as it is often plagued by errors and mistruths. The district stated all year that closing the 5 schools would save 2-3 million. It was only when faced with the media coverage from the sit-in at Lakeview that the started reporting that the savings was 6 million. Again how can we believe The district when the numbers are always changing. So this year they closed 5 schools, displaced 1000 students, to save a little more than 2 million dollars, which is less than 1% of the operating budget. I would never call that responsible management.

By: Nontcair

Nontcair — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 03:55:52 +0000

The departments taking up residence at Lakeview provide family and student support services: after-school programs, student assignment and bilingual testing, translation services, health and wellness, juvenile justice transition center support, etc. With the possible exception of "student assignment", what do any of these functions have to do with teaching Johnny how to read?

By: EffectsofReform

EffectsofReform — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 03:32:46 +0000

Keep with it, Katy. Get the answer. Insist on an answer.

By: A coding error

A coding error — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 23:33:33 +0000

Plus when they gave enrollment numbers to the board for the vote on Lazear, the figures were inflated/distorted. They played fearmongering, as it was well-known that this had become somehow a power and reassurance test for Smith. The Board was starting to be hesitant about his recommendations… and not taking them.
As in many areas, they simply and plainly improvise, and then communicate poorly. Principals and other leadership staff often find out about the district matters in this blog, if they do.
@Jenna: totally agreed. They simply do not know. Because they are too new… or they have been there too long.