Posts Tagged ‘Tony Smith’
Perata rallies religious community to abate truancy
On Wednesday, Don Perata, former senator and mayoral candidate, hosted a breakfast with more than 50 of Oakland’s most influential religious leaders to solicit their help in addressing school truancy, one of the city’s most pressing challenges.
Read MoreSchool board opener brings harsh budget news
Despite many heartfelt pleas to keep arts programs and continue running early childhood development centers, Superintendent Tony Smith told the audience at Wednesday night’s school board meeting that there just isn’t enough money for all the programs people care about. “If we can’t pay for it,” he said, “we can’t have it.”
Read MoreOakland teachers strike Thursday; school still in session
A majority of the Oakland Unified School District’s close to 2,400 teachers are expected to participate in a one day strike Thursday. School will be in session anyway. Though the district began hiring “emergency temporary teachers” close to a month ago, only 300 such teachers have been cleared to work tomorrow, according to OUSD spokesperson Troy Flint.
Read MoreSchool board renews charters, supports March 4 ‘Day of Action’
The agenda item that garnered the most attention and public comment was the board’s adoption of a resolution stating its support for the Day of Action that has been called for by the California Coordinating Committee.
Read MoreOUSD hears from students and teachers on charter school renewals
Cox Academy, World Academy, North Oakland Community Charter and Lighthouse Academy presented their cases to the Oakland Board of Education.
Read MoreSchool board considers new Waldorf charter, confronts big numbers
At last night’s meeting, board members heard a pitch for what would become the district’s 33rd charter school–as well as learning that nearly half the city’s school-age children are now in charter schools, independent schools, or home-schooling.
Read MoreProtests and dueling numbers mark schools meeting
Nearly 100 teachers picketed and leafleted last night’s school board meeting, pleading for a contract and better wages, while the Oakland district countered with its own flyers and warnings about certain schools that could be closed or turned into charters.
Read MoreOakland parents share questions, concerns with new superintendent
There were homemade brownies and ginger cookies at the town hall meeting Wednesday, where people had gathered to meet and ask questions of Tony Smith, the new superintendent of Oakland schools. School Board Director Jody London, who baked the goodies, had set up the event and welcomed the overflowing room of parents, administrators and district…
Read MoreSchool district resumes local control, but where’s the money?
After six years of state control, the Oakland Unified School District resumed local control last week and new Superintendent Tony Smith, an Oakland native, was inducted into office. But what exactly does this mean for Oakland residents in terms of change? Not much, apparently. While the OUSD Board will now be in a position to…
Read MoreThe Week That Was: Education
A new superintendent, API scores and more. By ALEXIA UNDERWOOD
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