Education

Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf delivered her first State of the City address on October 28th, outlining the four key issues she aims to address: improving community safety, providing equitable jobs and housing, creating a sustainable infrastructure, and ensuring responsive, trustworthy government.

The event was what the library called a “spooktacular” event, co-sponsored with We Tell Our Stories Sister Film Collective, Pan-African Network and PeoplesWorld.Org. The purpose was to build confidence, self-esteem, solidarity and good mental health by encouraging kids to come dressed as people or characters they admire.

Students spoke at an open forum with members of the Mills administration to talk about possible curriculum cuts.

The board also approved the establishment of Lodestar Charter School and a resolution that would continue collaborative efforts to end the sexual exploitation of children.

The mayor covered inequity, policing and housing in the address.

Thanks to an Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) school board vote Wednesday night, within the next three years ethnic studies classes like this one will be offered at all Oakland high schools. The courses may count as an academic graduation credit, but will not be required.

Oakland has joined 130 other communities nation-wide that aim to increase reading proficiency levels by 2020, its specific initiative called the Oakland Reads 2020 campaign.

The passing of SB 277 is already having effects on the Oakland Unified School District, but not necessarily in the ways one would expect.