The Oakland Unified School District is the Oakland, California public education school district. “OUSD” as Oakland Unified School District is referred to, operates a total of 80 elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools.
Oakland Unified School District New Board of Education Directors Dear Oakland Unified Community, As we have been talking over the past few weeks, Tuesday, November 3 was an enormous election for our city, the state of California, and the United States. Here in OUSD, as you know, we saw voters pass Measure Y, the bond … Read more
Free Flu Shots Oakland McClymonds High School Today Saturday Nov 14th 2020 10 AM – 4 PM From YouTube Channel: November 14, 2020 at 12:43AM ONN – Free Flu Shots Oakland McClymonds High School Today Saturday Nov 14th 2020 10 AM – 4 PM Saturday, November 14, 2020 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (while supplies … Read more
Here Are The Full Oakland California, Berkeley, California Election Results For The 2020 Election, Including Measures, And Results For Piedmont And San Leandro Who will win the 2020 Election for Oakland City Council? Will Lynette Gibson-McElhaney retain her District Three Seat, or will Moms 4 Housing leader Carroll Fife emerge with 51 percent of the … Read more
Measure QQ Advertisement From YouTube Channel: October 28, 2020 at 04:26PM ONN -“Yes On QQ” – Oakland Measure QQ Advertisement Measure QQ will amend the Oakland City Charter to allow 16-year-old Oakland students to have a true vote voice in how their schools are governed. Yes, students would have a say in who sits on … Read more
OUSD Reports Polling Locations Open at Ten District-Run Schools and One Charter School in OUSD on Halloween, and Will Open Daily Through November 3; Voters Can Drop off Their Ballots at the Locations When Open Voters Can Drop off Their Ballots at the Locations When Open Oakland, CA – There are now just three days … Read more
OUSD Celebrates Unique New Central Kitchen with Capacity to Create 35,000 Meals Per Day, and Serve as Farm and Educational Facility Oakland – During a year in which Oakland Unified School District had to completely rethink school meals because of the pandemic, OUSD is proud to show off its new and unique Central Kitchen that’s … Read more
Girls from Across OUSD Set to Come Together on Thursday for an Online Pre-Halloween Science Event Called Spooky Science Night Oakland, CA — Scientific Adventures for Girls, Chabot Space & Science Center and the Aeronautics and Astronautics Department at Stanford University are co-hosting an exciting Family STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) Night for … Read more
Oakland Unified School District OUSD Highlights Numerous Major Facilities Projects and Thanks Voters for Approving Measure J Which Funded the Projects
Oakland – Over the past month, OUSD has been showing off facilities projects that came to fruition largely because of the support of Oakland voters. Measure J enabled the District to totally rebuild the Glenview Elementary School campus, create a new high school building at Madison Park Academy, rebuild much of the Fremont High School campus and add an academic building, and build a new Central Kitchen that will create tens of thousands of meals a day and provide educational opportunities for students across Oakland.
In each case, the District held a news conference to show the community the features of the new facilities. (One is set for later this week at the Central Kitchen.) Staff from KDOL, the District’s TV station, did a video about each project sharing messages from the speakers including architects and contractors, city leaders, teachers, principals, the OUSD Superintendent and the Board of Education. Numerous speakers at each school thanked the voters for passing Measure J and enabling the completion of the projects.
Below are three KDOL videos that, in order, highlight the rebuilt Glenview Elementary campus, the new Madison Park Academy high school building, and the Fremont High School project.
About the Oakland Unified School District
In California’s most diverse city, Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) is dedicated to creating a learning environment where “Every Student Thrives!” More than half of our students speak a non-English language at home. And each of our 81 schools is staffed with talented individuals uniting around a common set of values: Students First, Equity, Excellence, Integrity, Cultural Responsiveness and Joy. We are committed to preparing all students for college, career and community success.
To learn more about OUSD’s Full Service Community District focused on academic achievement while serving the whole child in safe schools, please visit OUSD.org and follow us @OUSDnews.
Post based on press release from OUSD to Zennie62Media.
Note from Zennie62Media and Oakland News Now: this video-blog post demonstrates the full and live operation of the latest updated version of an experimental Zennie62Media , Inc. mobile media video-blogging system network that was launched June 2018. This is a major part of Zennie62Media , Inc.’s new and innovative approach to the production of news media. What we call “The Third Wave of Media”. The uploaded video is from a YouTube channel. When the video is “liked” by Zennie62 YouTube, then it is automatically uploaded to and formatted automatically at the Oakland News Now site and Zennie62-created and owned social media pages. The overall objective here, on top of our is smartphone-enabled, real-time, on the scene reporting of news, interviews, observations, and happenings anywhere in the World and within seconds and not hours – is the use of the existing YouTube social graph on any subject in the World. Now, news is reported with a smartphone and also by promoting current content on YouTube: no heavy and expensive cameras or even a laptop are necessary, or having a camera crew to shoot what is already on YouTube. The secondary objective is faster, and very inexpensive media content news production and distribution. We have found there is a disconnect between post length and time to product and revenue generated. With this, the problem is far less, though by no means solved. Zennie62Media is constantly working to improve the system network coding and seeks interested content and media technology partners.
The Oakland Unified School District sent this press release regarding possible Public Safety Power Shutoff or power shutoffs to Zennie62Media:
Dear Oakland Community,
We have learned that there is expected to be a major weather event in the coming days that will likely prompt PG&E to issue a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) once again. In a worst case scenario, the PSPS would begin on Sunday, 10/25 and last until Wednesday, 10/28 or later. That means some of our schools could be without power for three straight days, and homes in the neighborhoods could be affected, as well. Based on what we know so far, this PSPS could affect at least eleven schools. We will know more about the scheduled impact later in the weekend. The eleven schools are:
◦ Chabot Elementary
◦ Community Day
◦ Grass Valley Elementary
◦ Hillcrest K-8
◦ Joaquin Miller Elementary
◦ Laurel Elementary
◦ Montclair Elementary
◦ Montera Middle School
◦ Redwood Heights Elementary
◦ Skyline High School
◦ Thornhill Elementary
If indeed the power is out and students are unable to attend their classes, they will be asked to do their school work asynchronously, and report in to their teacher the first chance they get, letting them know they were unable to get online. Everyone is asked to charge their computers, WiFi hotspots and cell phones ahead of time, so they can do work during the PSPS. Obviously, if the PSPS lasts three days, that could make charging anything problematic.
Here is some more information from PG&E through the City of Oakland:
● To prevent wildfire and other natural disasters, PG&E has planned a PSPS starting Sunday, October 25, between 4 PM – 8 PM until at least Wednesday, October 28, at 12:00 PM. Around 24,000 Oakland customers could be impacted- a much larger impact in Oakland than the previous outage.
● To determine whether a home or neighborhood will experience an outage, PG&E customers should visit the PSPS page on the PG&E website and type in the address at: https://pgealerts.alerts.pge.com/updates/. This information will likely change as conditions change.
● The Oakland Fire Department is up staffing during this event, with OFD Engine companies conducting roving patrols as is customary during Red Flag Warnings events. OPD will be patrolling impacted neighborhoods. OPS will be stationed at impacted intersections
● PG&E is the sole manager of PSPS planning, contacting Medical Baseline customers, power shut-off, and power restoration.
When we receive additional information, we will pass it along to you as quickly as possible.
Oakland – With the November 3 election now just 15 days away, people across Oakland are already casting their votes for everything from ballot measures to political offices all the way up to the President and Vice President of the United States. To help Oaklanders exercise their constitutional right to vote, OUSD is providing ten District-run schools and one charter school as polling locations. The schools are as follows.
OUSD is providing ten District-run schools
In the weeks leading up to the election, some of the schools have seen voters visit in an effort to drop off their mail-in ballots at what will likely be their November 3 polling locations. However, the schools are NOT serving as ballot drop-off locations. If you are voting early and want to drop off your ballot rather than put it in the mail, you can visit the Alameda County Registrar of Voters at 1225 Fallon Street or you can find a map of ballot drop-box locations here.
It’s also important to know that today, Monday, October 19 is the final day to register to vote in the November election. If you are doing it by mail – it must be postmarked by today – or if you are registering online, please do so here. If you don’t register today, you can still register in person at the county registrar’s office, but that is known as a Conditional Voter Registration.
“This is an incredibly important election for a whole host of reasons, and we are proud to support the democratic process by offering our schools as polling locations,” said Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell. “If you haven’t already, don’t forget to register to vote, and then make sure you cast your ballots. It’s critical that all of our voices are heard as we shape the future that we want for ourselves and our children.”
About the Oakland Unified School District
In California’s most diverse city, Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) is dedicated to creating a learning environment where “Every Student Thrives!” More than half of our students speak a non-English language at home. And each of our 81 schools is staffed with talented individuals uniting around a common set of values: Students First, Equity, Excellence, Integrity, Cultural Responsiveness and Joy. We are committed to preparing all students for college, career and community success.
To learn more about OUSD’s Full Service Community District focused on academic achievement while serving the whole child in safe schools, please visit OUSD.org and follow us @OUSDnews.
Post based on press release from OUSD to Zennie62Media
Eight Months After Discovery of TCE Under the McClymonds High Campus, the School has been Deemed Safe for Students and Staff to Occupy
Oakland Unified School District OUSD
Oakland – Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) leadership will hold a news conference on Friday, October 16, 2020, to discuss the final determination about the safety of McClymonds High School, which had to shut down during the spring semester because of a toxic chemical that was found in the groundwater under the school. One month before the world radically changed because of the Covid pandemic, OUSD decided to close the McClymonds campus to students and staff because of the discovery of trichloroethylene, or TCE, under the school. Now, eight months later, the school has been deemed safe to return to for all students and staff.
In the weeks that followed the February closure, McClymonds students were divided up and moved to several different campuses. In the meantime, District staff, along with a group of experts from Alameda County and the State of California worked to take samples all across the campus, especially inside the school buildings. On Friday, the District is publicly sharing that the state Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) says the testing shows the campus is safe for the school community to return to once everyone is able to go back to in-person teaching and learning at all schools.
District staff will also discuss the environmental injustices that have been perpetrated on the people of Oakland and all urban areas for far too long, and how the TCE situation at McClymonds is emblematic of those injustices.
Stay tuned for the news conference livestream here.
About the Oakland Unified School District
In California’s most diverse city, Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) is dedicated to creating a learning environment where “Every Student Thrives!” More than half of our students speak a non-English language at home. And each of our 81 schools is staffed with talented individuals uniting around a common set of values: Students First, Equity, Excellence, Integrity, Cultural Responsiveness and Joy. We are committed to preparing all students for college, career and community success.
To learn more about OUSD’s Full Service Community District focused on academic achievement while serving the whole child in safe schools, please visit OUSD.org and follow us @OUSDnews.
#OaklandUndivided Reaches Major Milestone in Effort to Provide 25,000 Oakland Students with Free Computers and Internet Access; Media is Invited to Laptop Distribution Event on Thursday
The press release sent from The Oakland Unified School District to Zennie62Media is below:
Oakland, CA — Eric Yanez (below), a 4th-grader at Hoover Elementary School, had problems with distance learning. But many of those challenges have evaporated as Eric now has a computer and internet access through the #OaklandUndivided campaign. “My son got a Chromebook from #OaklandandUndivided and it has helped tremendously,” said Guadalupe Canchola, Eric’s mother. “We both are so grateful as it has helped to ease the new way of school with distance learning. Initially, he would use my phone for the zoom class and a borrowed tablet for the actual school work and it was just so different and a little frustrating a lot of the time.”
Eric Yanez
Those challenges are exactly what the #OaklandUndivided campaign is designed to address for all Oakland public school students in need. The campaign, which is a joint venture of Tech Exchange, Oakland Promise, Oakland Public Education Fund, the City of Oakland and Mayor Libby Schaaf, and OUSD, began about five months ago with one goal: to ensure every public school student in need has access to a computer, internet, and tech support. While the work is far from over, this is an important update for the community on some key milestones coming out of last week’s National Digital Inclusion Week, during which the campaign handed out devices at 25 schools across Oakland and highlighted the impact these devices and resources have had on families and teachers.
Oakland OUSD Student
Most importantly, this week, the campaign expects to reach the halfway mark and hand out the 12,500th computer of the original 25,000 units. These devices are for students to keep at home and to provide consistent access for families.
On Thursday, October 15 the campaign will host a computer distribution event with Mayor Schaaf and OUSD School Board District 7 Director, James Harris at Castlemont High School.
The focus for the #OaklandUndivided team after that will be to get the rest of the 25,000 computers into the hands of Oakland students in need.
“Everyday we get closer to closing the digital divide in Oakland,” Mayor Libby Schaaf said. “This week marks a critical milestone, but it is only progress achieved — not mission accomplished. We’ll continue to work with our amazing community partners until the digital divide is closed for good, and every child and family in Oakland has a device and the consistent internet access they need to reach their full educational potential.”
Until they receive the #OaklandUndivided computers, Oakland students in district-run and charter schools who have needs for technology at home, still have one of the more than 23,000 computers and 7,000 hotspots that were loaned out by schools since the shelter in place took effect last March. “We are pleased that the #OaklandUndivided campaign has made such important progress,” said OUSD Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell. “It’s obvious that in this time of distance learning, we have prepared our students for success by ensuring that they have the tools they need at home to fully access their education. I thank the #OaklandUndivided team for all their hard work. It has indeed paid off!”
Oakland OUSD Students Get Computers
Almost all students have either a loaner or an #OaklandUndivided device. But the campaign knows there are some students who remain disconnected. If you are a family in Oakland public schools, make sure to fill out the Tech Check survey to receive your device(s) to ensure your student has access to a computer and the internet. If you know of a student or family in need who does not currently have access to technology resources, including a computer to participate in remote learning, please complete the OUSD Technology Intake Form. OUSD will ensure that the students identified there receive a computer within 48 hours.
One of the most important aspects of this effort has been the tech support supplied by the campaign. OUSD students can be confident that any issues they encounter with their device or internet access will be addressed quickly. So far, there have been a few problems, which the team quickly resolved. If families are having any issues with #OaklandUndivided devices such as mic issues, error messages, etc., they can contact Tech Exchange for support by texting or calling 510-866-2260.
Parents are clearly pleased with the results. “His interaction in class has been awesome and his weekly grades have been 100%,” said Guadalupe Canchola, mother of Hoover Elementary student, Eric Yanez. “Thank you all again for providing and donating such an important tool for our kids to continue learning despite anything new being thrown their way.”
WHAT: #OaklandUndivided High School Device Distribution Event
WHEN: 2:30 p.m., Thursday, October 15
WHERE: Castlemont High School, 8601 MacArthur Blvd
About the Oakland Unified School District
In California’s most diverse city, Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) is dedicated to creating a learning environment where “Every Student Thrives!” More than half of our students speak a non-English language at home. And each of our 81 schools is staffed with talented individuals uniting around a common set of values: Students First, Equity, Excellence, Integrity, Cultural Responsiveness and Joy. We are committed to preparing all students for college, career and community success.
The Oakland Unified School District sent this press release to announce a press conference held last Friday on a new campus at Glenview Elementary. As that even was missed by this space, here’s the information that was sent, which will be augmented by additional news presented here at Oakland News Now:
OUSD to Unveil New Campus at Glenview Elementary at Friday Press Conference
School is Ready to Welcome Students When District Reopens for In-Person Learning
Oakland – On Friday, October 9, OUSD is celebrating a major milestone in the form of the completion of a rebuilt school. The freshly completed Glenview Elementary, which sits at the corner of La Cresta Avenue and Hampel Street, is now ready to welcome students back to class once conditions related to the pandemic allow the District to reopen for in-person instruction. The school was almost entirely torn down in 2016 for the rebuilding project. The only thing that remained was the facade on the front of the school. And there are lots of other amazing features.
New Glenview Elementary Campus in OaklandNew Glenview Elementary Campus in OaklandNew Glenview Elementary Campus in Oakland
The old school building had undersized and under-equipped classrooms, but those are history. The new building has high-performance classrooms that are right-sized, healthy and comfortable, and achieve 21st century goals for learning environments. The retention of the iconic porch and portico element was pivotal in the design of the new building. The architect said that while it was challenging, it anchored the new building in the same location as the original building and allowed for the cherished stairs, outdoor terraces, and architectural landmark to remain.
The new multi-use room with a stage and a basketball court will be enjoyed by students, parents and the community, and the roll-up doors allow larger indoor/outdoor gatherings. The library’s location and design with its built-in amphitheater seating, flexible layout, and restroom support school and community use.
Multi-use room with stage & basketball court.
The school was also built with sustainability as a major driver of the design. The school is resource conscious, consumes less energy, and provides natural lighting throughout. It is well-insulated, has efficient radiant heating systems and LED lighting, ceiling fans are used for cooling and comfort, windows are operable and energy management systems were installed to manage energy consumption.
“This is a moment we have all been waiting years to see,” said Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell. “A time when we get to celebrate the rebirth of a beloved school. The newly rebuilt Glenview Elementary will serve generations of Oakland children, as a warm, welcoming and supportive environment for learning. It is beautiful inside and out, and any Oakland student would be proud to call Glenview their school. Likewise, the campus will serve as an important community center for residents in the Dimond Park area. We thank the taxpayers of Oakland for supporting this important work to ensure our students have the kind of learning environment that all young people need and deserve.”
Oakland Lacrosse Club to Hold Annual Fundraiser Thursday Evening to Support Thousands of OUSD Students with the Original North American Sport
Oakland Lacrosse Club to Hold Annual Fundraiser Thursday Evening to Support Thousands of OUSD Students with the Original North American Sport
Oakland – On Thursday evening, October 8, an important partner to Oakland schools and our students is holding its annual fundraiser. The Oakland Lacrosse Club (OLC) is hosting a virtual fundraiser to raise money to help it serve its student athletes. Every year, OLC shares the sport of lacrosse with 2,500 OUSD students, and 175 sixth to twelfth graders participate in the year round program.
The money raised will help OLC support the creation of girls varsity lacrosse programs at every OUSD-run high school, provide intensive college counseling for 100 high school players, and continue to build a 6th to 12th grade pipeline offering the sport of lacrosse to all youth in Oakland public schools.
Oakland Lacrosse Club
Lacrosse is a sport similar to soccer played on the same kind of field, yet with a small rubber ball that is thrown back and forth between players using sticks with nets on one end. The boys version is full contact, so they wear helmets and pads. The girls game has contact similar to basketball, so they don’t wear helmets or pads, but they do wear safety goggles. The sport is a descendent of what was called baggataway, which was invented by Native Americans in the 15th century. Oakland Technical High School has had a girls varsity team and a boys club team for several years, and girls varsity teams are coming to Oakland High and Skyline High, the latter of which used to have a boys varsity team.
Like every organization, Oakland Lacrosse has faced challenges because of the pandemic. Undaunted, OLC created a fall program in which 10 coaches oversee 60 players and provide weekly check-ins on academics, wellness and fitness. Players can join the coaches at social distance lacrosse and fitness workouts around the city so they have the opportunity to exercise and connect with their teammates. OLC also partnered with ESM prep to provide intensive college counseling for high school juniors and seniors, half of whom will be the first in their family to go to college.
The fundraiser is free to attend, and will include an awards ceremony. OUSD Communications Director, John Sasaki, who is a lifelong lacrosse player and current high school coach, will serve as emcee.
WHAT: Oakland Lacrosse Club Annual (Virtual) Fundraiser
WHEN: 6:00 p.m., Thursday, October 8
REGISTER HERE: http://oaklandlacrosse.org/virtual-benefit. To donate to Oakland Lacrosse Club, click here.
About the Oakland Unified School District
In California’s most diverse city, Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) is dedicated to creating a learning environment where “Every Student Thrives!” More than half of our students speak a non-English language at home. And each of our 81 schools is staffed with talented individuals uniting around a common set of values: Students First, Equity, Excellence, Integrity, Cultural Responsiveness and Joy. We are committed to preparing all students for college, career and community success.
To learn more about OUSD’s Full Service Community District focused on academic achievement while serving the whole child in safe schools, please visit OUSD.org and follow us @OUSDnews.
Post based on press release from Oakland Unified School District to Zennie62Media, Inc.
OAKLAND, CA – Yesterday, October 5th, at 10:30AM Oakland City Councilmember at-large Rebecca Kaplan, held a press conference together with a coalition of leaders, to denounce the lies of billionaires who are trying to buy our elections – both in the City of Oakland, and throughout California. Large corporations, including Lyft and Uber, are spending big in this election, seeking to undermine our democracy, harm workers, and undermine our communities, while demanding sweetheart deals and special loopholes for themselves. In this upcoming November election, they are spending big, at the local level in Oakland and Statewide in California — where they also recently gave large sums to the State Republican Party.
Rebecca challenged them to “put their mouth where their money is” and debate her. Kaplan demanded they tell the voters directly why they think they should not pay their fair share for the roads and infrastructure they rely on every day.
Said Kaplan: “Locally they are demanding special treatment, tax loopholes, and monopoly power. The big money they are spending to attack me is less than the millions of dollars they could cost the people, if billionaires get to hurt workers and community. These huge corporations are trying to undermine our democracy, for California, and locally in Oakland.”
Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez added: “We can’t allow billionaire corporations to buy politicians and policies, either directly or indirectly. I’m standing up with Rebecca Kaplan because I know she will stand with regular folks against corporate greed. She’s already proven that, and that’s why they are targeting her.”
Gary Jimenez, Vice President of SEIU 1021 stated: “We are living in uncertain times and working families remain under attack. We cannot let large corporations continue to dump tons of money into our elections supporting anti worker politicians. I support Kaplan who supports working families.”
Sam Davis, Candidate for Oakland Unified School District Board said of this overreach, “We’ve seen how the huge expenditures by billionaires in our Oakland school board elections have corroded our democratic process, and we need to take a stand and say this stops here and now. Only by building a truly grassroots campaign, with thousands of voices, can we drown out the money megaphone that we are up against. I support Rebecca because she stands with our teachers and students.”
And Art Pulaski, CA Labor Federation Executive Officer, said: ““Oakland voters aren’t going to stand for Lyft’s brazen attempt to strip workers of basic rights, smear a champion of working people and buy elections.”
Randy Shaw, journalist and housing advocate, sent: “A company spending tens of millions of dollars to deprive workers of benefits via Prop 22 is now targeting a councilmember who has fought for increased affordability in Oakland. Prop 22 would make Oakland’s housing crisis much worse.”
The Facebook Live link can be found here and: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=371874683949862
HIgh resolution video of the event can be found here and: https://click.email.vimeo.com/u/?qs=f6c83dd7bbe8a3047149e1e50c76c819213151acf43d4d7dc859afdf277a41ce0741598c316ed686d86a25cacfbdffc48a9400cd91b6042e3b5ac4fe84cbacae
ONN – Oakland School District OUSD Reports Grab And Go Food Boxes Contained Unexpected Letter From Trump
Oakland School District OUSD Reports Grab And Go Food Boxes Contained Unexpected Letter From Trump
This was in a press release from the Oakland Unified School District:
Hello Oakland Unified Community,
Under the CARES act, we have been distributing produce and dairy boxes to our community through our grab and go meal service. Last Thursday, those boxes contained a letter from President Donald Trump, which was distributed nationwide. It has been criticized because it arrived just weeks before the presidential election.
The CARES Act, which had to pass Congress before being signed into law by the president, had the support of all of our local representatives including Oakland Congresswoman Barbara Lee, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, and U.S. Senator and Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
Our nutrition services team has distributed the produce and dairy boxes from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and other philanthropic partners during much of the pandemic. We will continue to distribute these food boxes, which come to us through the Alameda County Community Food Bank (ACCFB), as they supplement the meals we provide for students during distance learning. It is possible future boxes will contain the same or a similar letter from the president.
As a reminder to our community, OUSD is a sanctuary district, inside a sanctuary city, inside a sanctuary state, which means we support ALL of our students, families and staff no matter where they came from or how they got here. We provide food every Monday and Thursday at 22 sites across the city, and will do so with or without a message from the government.
For more information about our grab and go program, visit our website www.ousd.org/nutrition. And please remember to wear a mask or other face covering anytime you go outside.
In community,
Preston Thomas
Chief Systems and Services Officer
Stay tuned.
Note from Zennie62Media and Oakland News Now: this video-blog post demonstrates the full and live operation of the latest updated version of an experimental Zennie62Media , Inc. mobile media video-blogging system network that was launched June 2018. This is a major part of Zennie62Media , Inc.’s new and innovative approach to the production of news media. What we call “The Third Wave of Media”. The uploaded video is from a vlogger with the Zennie62 on YouTube Partner Channel, then uploaded to and formatted automatically at the Oakland News Now site and Zennie62-created and owned social media pages. The overall objective is smartphone-enabled, real-time, on the scene reporting of news, interviews, observations, and happenings anywhere in the World and within seconds and not hours. Now, news is reported with a smartphone: no heavy and expensive cameras or even a laptop are necessary. The secondary objective is faster, and very inexpensive media content news production and distribution. We have found there is a disconnect between post length and time to product and revenue generated. With this, the problem is far less, though by no means solved. Zennie62Media is constantly working to improve the system network coding and seeks interested content and media technology partners.
Oakland Walks 4 Schools Virtual Walkathon, Aims to Take 30 Million Steps to Raise Funds for OUSD Schools This October
The Oakland Public Education Fund (https://www.oaklandedfund.org/) is launching its inaugural Oakland Walks 4 Schools Walkathon this October. #OaklandWalks will inspire students, parents, school staff, and community members to get safe and healthy exercise during the pandemic while raising money for some of Oakland’s most underserved public schools.
Oakland Walks 4 Schools is expecting:
● 3,000 students, parents, and community members to participate
● A total of 30 million steps to be taken
● Thousands of dollars to be raised for Oakland public schools
Participants will track as many safe and socially-distant steps as possible during the month of October; this includes laps around the block, weekend hikes, and even steps inside the home. And for every step a donation will be made to an Oakland school to purchase art supplies, books, technology, and other educationally engaging materials.
“Despite the fact that we are in distance learning, our students and schools still need supplies,” says OUSD Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell. “We are grateful that the Ed Fund is engaging our community with this fundraiser that’s fun for the whole family and fosters physical fitness. Especially given the challenges that the pandemic is presenting all of us, it’s critical that children and adults exercise regularly to stay healthy and better manage our stress. I thank in advance everyone who takes some of the 30 million steps on behalf of the students of Oakland.”
Alexandria Medina, Executive Director of the Oakland Public Education Fund adds, “The Oakland Public Education Fund is committed to creating safe and healthy environments where all students can thrive. Physical fitness and mental health go hand in hand and the Oakland Walks 4 Schools fundraiser is a chance to help raise money for underserved schools while encouraging wellness for all. We see this as a win-win for all Oakland public school kids, their families, and the greater Oakland community.”
Community members, businesses, and philanthropic organizations are encouraged to learn more and get involved at: www.oaklandwalks4schools.com
About the Oakland Public Education Fund:
The Oakland Public Education Fund (“the Ed Fund”) leads the development and management of community resources in Oakland public schools so that all students can learn, grow, and thrive. Learn more at www.oaklandedfund.org
About the Oakland Unified School District
In California’s most diverse city, Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) is dedicated to creating a learning environment where “Every Student Thrives!” We are committed to preparing all students for college, career and community success. www.ousd.org
This post based on a press release from the Oakland Public Education Fund to Zennie62Media, Inc.
The Oakland City Auditor just sent a blazing press release. Here’s what she and her office wrote about the Oakland Fire Department:
Oakland – Today, Oakland City Auditor, Courtney Ruby, released a performance audit of the Fire Prevention Bureau (Bureau), a division of the Oakland Fire Department (OFD). This report examines whether the Bureau implemented the 2017 recommendations from the Mayor’s Task Force established after the tragic Ghost Ship Fire in 2016 and whether the Bureau has established adequate controls to ensure all state mandated inspections are completed and fire safety laws are adequately enforced.
The mission of Oakland’s Fire Prevention Bureau is to reduce the risk of fire throughout the City. The Bureau conducts fire safety inspections of the City’s buildings, structures, and vacant lots and performs “state-mandated inspections,” which include buildings used for public assemblies, educational purposes, institutional facilities, multi-family residential dwellings, and high-rise structures. The Bureau also oversees the City’s commercial inspection program of smaller apartment buildings and retail businesses, inspects cannabis operations, and reviews building and tenant improvement plans to ensure new construction includes all required fire safety components. Furthermore, they are responsible for fire safety in the high danger zone of the Oakland hills.
The audit found that more than three years after the City launched a major reform effort to improve fire and life safety throughout the City of Oakland, the City has made only limited progress in fully implementing the reforms set forth by the Mayor’s Task Force. The Fire Department implemented processes to identify and address high risk properties and improve communication between the Bureau and the engine companies to report potentially unsafe properties for further investigation.
The Fire Department, however, has yet to fully implement critical organizational improvements such as filling staff vacancies, creating permanent supervisor positions, implementing more robust quality control processes, establishing performance measures for inspectors, and developing operating procedures for inspections.
The audit found the Bureau inspected only 26 percent of all state-mandated facilities between September 2018 and September 2019, even though the Bureau’s staffing for fire inspectors has increased significantly. Furthermore, the audit revealed the Bureau had not inspected 51 percent of the state-mandated facilities in the last three years we reviewed. The audit also noted the Bureau lacks sufficient staffing to inspect the growing number of cannabis operations in the City. The nature of cannabis operations poses significant fire risks to the operators, neighboring properties, firefighters, and the community.
Additionally, the Bureau’s enforcement efforts are often ineffective. The Bureau’s practice has been to try and coax property owners to correct fire safety violations by re-inspecting properties. Between September 2018 and September 2019, the Bureau conducted over 800 re-inspections of state-mandated properties to ensure property owners corrected various fire safety violations. Although 236 properties implemented the appropriate corrective action, inspectors re-inspected these properties up to seven times to obtain corrective action. On the other hand, the Bureau was unable to obtain corrective action on another 493 properties, even though inspectors re-inspected these properties up to seven times.
The audit also found the Oakland Unified School District has not been responsive in correcting fire safety violations such as missing fire extinguishers and non-functioning fire alarm systems. Also, the Bureau has not operationalized its appeal process to provide property owners an opportunity to dispute the Bureau’s findings of violations in the City’s wildlife interface areas. Not operationalizing the appeals process delayed the assessment of approximately $300,000 in inspection fees in 2018 and 2019 has yet to be assessed as a result.
In response to the audit results, Auditor Ruby noted, “Two of the deadliest fires in US history have been in Oakland: The 1991 Oakland Hills Fire and the 2016 Ghost Ship Fire. Collectively these fires killed 61 of our residents. Completing this audit has been of the utmost importance to me to ensure the City is doing all it can to protect our residents—unfortunately, the audit found OFD has been slow to learn from the past and critical work remains to be done—a sense of urgency and accountability must be ignited in OFD—there is no excuse for the lack of progress.”
During this time, the Bureau’s personnel have been stretched thin from meeting its annual state- mandated inspections by other work, such as inspections required by the City’s building boom, addressing safety issues at the many homeless encampments throughout the City, and the hiring and training of new inspection staff. Additionally, the Bureau’s practice to repeatedly re-inspect properties to bring them into compliance has also diverted significant time away from conducting mandated inspections.
While the lack of progress can be partly attributed to high turnover in the Fire Department’s leadership (since 2017, the City has had three Fire Chiefs and three Fire Marshals), Auditor Ruby, stated, “In 2013, I released an audit reviewing the Department’s vegetation management inspection practices and some of these very same problems were identified, such as the need for consistent training, stronger supervision, quality control measures and clear policies and procedures to ensure the accuracy and completeness of inspections. Almost 10 years later, the current audit shows these same issues persist with building inspections.”
On a positive note, the Department has agreed to implement 29 of the 30 recommendations in the audit report. Moreover, the Department and the Bureau have begun employing a more strategic focus on implementing management and accountability systems called for by the Mayor’s Task Force and the Bureau is in the process of converting to a more advanced database, which will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Bureau’s inspection efforts.
Oakland – On Wednesday, September 30, more than a dozen students will receive refurbished MacBook Air computers, in the second day of this giveaway from RRRComputer.org, a San Francisco-based non-profit organization. The first day was last week when about 20 students received the devices, in a program that is separate from the #OaklandUndivided campaign. The second half of the group of 40 students receive their computers on Wednesday afternoon.
RRRComputer.org is in the business of collecting computers, refurbishing them, and donating them to young people. “It is important that the students get the laptops to do their homework online so that they can pass their classes during the Covid-19 shelter in place order,” said Hue Mach, RRRComputer.org Founder. “It is a matter of either not passing and being unable to go on to college or having a higher education. We need to help these students who are unable to buy a laptop to do their work online.”
OUSD and Oakland High School thank Mr. Mach and RRRComputer.org for supporting Oakland’s students.
WHAT: Refurbished MacBook Air Giveaway to Oakland High Students
WHEN: 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, September 30
WHERE: Oakland High School, 1023 MacArthur Blvd
About the Oakland Unified School District
In California’s most diverse city, Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) is dedicated to creating a learning environment where “Every Student Thrives!” More than half of our students speak a non-English language at home. And each of our 81 schools is staffed with talented individuals uniting around a common set of values: Students First, Equity, Excellence, Integrity, Cultural Responsiveness and Joy. We are committed to preparing all students for college, career and community success.
To learn more about OUSD’s Full Service Community District focused on academic achievement while serving the whole child in safe schools, please visit OUSD.org and follow us @OUSDnews.
Oakland – The Oakland Unified School District or OUSD is not taking any chances ahead of its Madison Park Academy Press Conference. It issued this press release:
COVID RULES for Today’s Madison Park Academy Press Conference
Oakland, CA — For anyone planning to attend today’s press conference at Madison Park Elementary as noted in this press release from Monday evening, there are some rules you will have to follow, per the OUSD legal department. They are as follows:
● Masks must be worn at ALL times (unless the speaker cannot be heard with their mask on)
● Any microphone used must be wiped down/disinfected before each speaker
● Maintain at least 6 feet of distance between everyone at ALL times
● No sharing of anything (e.g., pens, paper, etc.)
● No one should attend who has any COVID symptoms (John Sasaki will do a verbal check with everyone (OUSD staff and non-OUSD personnel) when they arrive)
● No using the restroom
● Stay outdoors at ALL times unless explicitly permitted by John Sasaki
● For those that do go inside the building, John Sasaki will need to escort you and open all doors
● Anyone who fails to comply with these rules, their application, or related direction from John Sasaki may be asked to leave the event
If you have any questions, please contact communications director, John Sasaki.
This is all well and good, but I wonder if anyone bothered to check if Madison Park Elementary was sanitized prior to the press event? COVID-19 is all over: in the air, and on certain surfaces. OUSD gave no indication that the new building was sanitized before the press conference.
On top of that, consider that on January 24th 2020, COVID-19 was the focus of a classified Senate briefing, but just what was said we have not been told. Why was the meeting classified? What does the U.S. Government know that we do not know. Not a good situation.
On Tuesday, OUSD Unveils New High School Building at Madison Park Academy, School in East Oakland Neighborhood with Troubled Past
Oakland – East Oakland’s Sobrante Park neighborhood, a shining new feature will have a huge impact on the lives of countless young people. The Madison Park Academy (MPA) campus has a new building for its high school students. The building has 14 classrooms, two labs, six offices and other staff space.
Ten years ago, the idea of a new school building here may have seemed next to impossible. MPA is located in an area that, historically, many people avoided. “It used to be one of the largest dope traps in Oakland, because there’s one way in and one way out. So, they could protect their turf,” said OUSD Board of Education Director, James Harris in 2019. “As kids, we went to school on MacArthur, they’d say man, don’t go anywhere near Sobrante Park because it was so dangerous that you didn’t know what could happen. A lot of kids would come in and get robbed.”
A quick look at a classroom inside the new high school building at Madison Park Academy.
But now, the area has gone through a renaissance, and the resurgence of the school has been a major catalyst for change. None of it would have happened, were it not for the dedication of MPA’s Executive Principal, Lucinda Taylor, who pushed this project for more than eight years, and ensured her students had a say in the finished product. “We’ve talked to students, they’ve had a real say in how the garden areas are going to be constructed. They’ve seen the design, they’ve been instrumental in choosing textures and tiles in classrooms. It’s just been a community project,” she said last year.
The new high school building at Madison Park Academy.
“This means a lot for our engineering program,” said engineering teacher, Tawana Guillaume last year about her students who do robotics projects. “We need a lot of space, we have a lot of equipment, we’re kind of crammed in our classroom in our portable. So, the opportunity for our students to really spread out to work on large-scale projects, to have this space to be creative, it will be amazing.”
Beyond the new high school building, the project includes a renovated main parking lot, and a renovated kitchen, along with a new remote snack bar. It balances a welcoming atmosphere and accessibility with security and safety with its appropriate use of lighting, ADA-compliant walkways and spaces, and network of ornamental gates. It’s designed to provide a healthy, clean and durable environment that promotes effective teaching and learning. The building systems are designed to provide exceptional indoor air quality with a high degree of user control through the use of high-efficiency filtration. As noted above, it also includes an area set aside as a school garden for students to develop and maintain.
The new high school building at Madison Park Academy.
The $36 million project was funded through Measure B, Measure J and Fund 25. “We thank the voters of Oakland for seeing our students’ needs and supporting them with this beautiful new building,” said Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell in 2019. “We know that Madison Park is already producing many business and community leaders of tomorrow. Very soon, the people of Oakland will see their investment in these students paying remarkable dividends.”
Although some staff has already been on-site, the new building will welcome all staff and students once the community has been allowed to move beyond the restrictions in place because of the COVID pandemic.
Media is welcome at this event. Adherence to social distancing and mask-wearing guidelines is mandatory.
WHAT: Madison Park Academy New High School Building Ribbon-Cutting & News Conference
WHEN: Noon, Tuesday, September 29
WHERE: Madison Park Academy, 400 Capistrano Drive
About the Oakland Unified School District
In California’s most diverse city, Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) is dedicated to creating a learning environment where “Every Student Thrives!” More than half of our students speak a non-English language at home. And each of our 81 schools is staffed with talented individuals uniting around a common set of values: Students First, Equity, Excellence, Integrity, Cultural Responsiveness and Joy. We are committed to preparing all students for college, career and community success.
To learn more about OUSD’s Full Service Community District focused on academic achievement while serving the whole child in safe schools, please visit OUSD.org and follow us @OUSDnews.
This post based on a press release from OUSD to Zennie62Media, Inc.
Oakland – The annual celebration for excellence in television entertainment, the 72nd Emmy Awards show on ABC on Sunday night, September 20, was a huge night for Oakland Unified School District, and people with roots here. The District can add three Emmys to the collection of awards amassed throughout the years by alumni, staff, former students, and other connected artists.
First off, Zendaya, who is from Oakland and whose mother taught at Fruitvale Elementary, won for Lead Actress in a Drama for her work in HBO’s Euphoria. Another winner was 2004 McClymonds High School graduate, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who took the Emmy for Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his work in Watchmen on HBO. And lastly, current students from across the District can celebrate the win by We Are The Dream: The Kids of the Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest, an HBO documentary, which took home the Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Program.
Emmy Awards 2020
Zendaya’s mother, Claire Stoermer, taught at Fruitvale for 20 years, and Zendaya used to visit the school and even helped tutor the students. In more recent years, she has visited Fruitvale and other schools to support today’s students. In winning the Emmy for Lead Actress in a Drama, she beat out industry heavyweights including Jennifer Aniston, Sandra Oh, and Laura Linney. She also became the youngest woman to win the category at just 24 years old. Her acceptance speech brought tears to the eyes of many who watched it.
Zendaya
Supporting Actor winner, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, grew up in West Oakland, and attended school in Emeryville before going to McClymonds for his high school career. For years, he has remained close with McClymonds social worker, Relonda McGhee. “Yahya was destined for greatness, so it is awesome that he has won his first Emmy Award,” she said. “Yahya surprised me with a visit at school in February, 2018. As I do all Mack Family when they come see me, I had him speak to my class. He did so and sponsored a young lady for her Prom. He asked who had the highest GPA and the lowest. This student was bold enough to admit her grades had dropped, and he promised to pay for her Prom if she worked hard to bring her grades back up. She did and he sent me the money for her. That’s just him. I couldn’t be more excited that Yahya is now receiving this recognition. He’s a great actor, and an even better person.”
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
Lastly, the win by the documentary, We Are The Dream: The Kids of the Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest, is a win for all Oakland students who have and will take part in the District’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratorical Fest. And in particular, it’s a win for Executive Producer, Mahershala Ali, who was born in Oakland, and for Skyline High School Drama Teacher, Awele Makeba (right), the producer of the Oratorical Fest. “HBO’s documentary was a precious gift to OUSD, the City of Oakland, and especially our children and families,” she said. “It’s definitely a community affair. The Emmy elevates the documentary to a whole other level, not only lifting up our talented youth, amplifying their potent voices nationally, but centering 4-11 year olds, predominantly children of color, in a proud legacy of being on the right side of racial and social justice, honoring the life and dream of Reverend, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”
Skyline High School Drama Teacher, Awele Makeba
You can learn more about the documentary and watch it for free here:
“Nothing about these Emmy wins comes as a surprise to me,” said Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell. “I have helped judge the MLK Oratorical Fest, and see regularly how amazing the students are, and how remarkable the event is for them. The documentary did a beautiful job of sharing all that goes into the speeches, and what taking part means for our young people. As for Zendaya and Yahya, knowing their roots are here in Oakland, I have followed their careers, and see, like everyone else, their extraordinary talents. Their Emmy wins just confirm what we already knew. I want to personally congratulate Zendaya, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Mahershala Ali, Ms. Awele at Skyline, and all the students, staff and families who make the MLK Oratorical Fest the amazing event that it is. All of you do a wonderful job of showing the heart and brilliance of Oakland.”
About the Oakland Unified School District
In California’s most diverse city, Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) is dedicated to creating a learning environment where “Every Student Thrives!” More than half of our students speak a non-English language at home. And each of our 81 schools is staffed with talented individuals uniting around a common set of values: Students First, Equity, Excellence, Integrity, Cultural Responsiveness and Joy. We are committed to preparing all students for college, career and community success.
To learn more about OUSD’s Full Service Community District focused on academic achievement while serving the whole child in safe schools, please visit OUSD.org and follow us @OUSDnews.
This post based on a press release from OUSD to Zennie62Media.
Oakland – An effort by the U.S. Department of Education to take public education dollars away from Oakland Unified School District and countless other Districts and give it to private schools in Oakland and elsewhere has failed, and leadership from OUSD had a role in defeating it.
OUSD StudentsOUSD StudentsOUSD Students
U.S. Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, had created a rule that directed districts to give private schools a larger share of federal coronavirus aid – money that would otherwise have gone to public schools such as here in OUSD. If the rule had gone forward, OUSD would have been forced to distribute $1.8 million to local private schools through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act Private School Program. That would have been more than 10% of the $14 million in federal funding sent to OUSD. All told, it was DeVos’ plan to send $2 billion in federal education dollars to private schools.
According to the Washington Post, “Lawmakers from both parties said that most of the Cares Act’s K-12 education funding was intended to be distributed to public and private elementary and secondary schools using a long-employed formula based on how many poor children they serve. But DeVos said she wanted money sent to private schools based on the total number of students in the school, not how many students from low-income families attended. That would have sent hundreds of millions of dollars more to private schools than Congress had intended.”
California and other states sued the federal government to reverse the rule, and OUSD was a party to the lawsuit. Johanna Hoffmann, the District’s Middle School and Private School specialist in Strategic Resource Planning, submitted a declaration in support of the lawsuit. Included in the declaration was this powerful argument that OUSD deserved as much money as possible to support its students. “The transition to distance learning has been particularly challenging for OUSD’s lower income students and, because of the high percentage of low-income students within our district, OUSD is significantly impacted by these challenges. Low-income students lack technology access, which prevents them from accessing remote learning materials. OUSD serves a large number of students that lack access to devices and high-speed internet at home, leaving the students unable to learn remotely. From what we have seen, private school students are more likely to live in homes with good internet access and computers.”
After receiving a collection of information, a federal judge ruled that the move by DeVos violated the law, relying in part on the information included in Hoffman’s declaration. DeVos then dropped the rule. That means OUSD gets to keep most of the $1.8 million for District students, plus the rest of the $14 million.
“What a relief it is that the federal judge saw the DeVos rule for what it was, a way to take money from public school students who need it, and give it to schools that serve primarily students of great privilege,” said Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell. “When it comes to food insecurity, the need for technology in the home, and many other metrics, our students deserve all the support they can get from the federal government. I thank the State of California for leading the legal fight and I applaud Johanna Hoffmann in Strategic Resource Planning for the outstanding work she put in to help convince the court to rule on the side of our nation’s public school students.”
About the Oakland Unified School District
In California’s most diverse city, Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) is dedicated to creating a learning environment where “Every Student Thrives!” More than half of our students speak a non-English language at home. And each of our 81 schools is staffed with talented individuals uniting around a common set of values: Students First, Equity, Excellence, Integrity, Cultural Responsiveness and Joy. We are committed to preparing all students for college, career and community success.
To learn more about OUSD’s Full Service Community District focused on academic achievement while serving the whole child in safe schools, please visit OUSD.org and follow us @OUSDnews.
This post based on a press release from the Oakland OUSD to Zennie62Media.
Oakland – Four weeks into the new year, and several schools across Oakland Unified School District are in mourning because they have recently lost valued members of their communities. The OUSD District has lost a total of five young people who were getting ready to graduate or had recently graduated. Some had come back to the schools to support the students of today.
Zakiya Thomas attended Oakland Tech and was currently studying at Dewey Academy when she was killed in a car crash. Her cousin Terri’Nae Williams was killed in the same crash. She graduated from Castlemont High School last spring. 19 year old Zavier Patton was a graduate of Skyline High School, who also attended Claremont Middle School. He was a victim of gun violence. Former Oakland High, Fremont High and Skyline High student, Quinton Williams also fell victim to gun violence, as did Skyline graduate, Sampson Luu. Luu also worked in the after school program at Roosevelt Middle School.
Zakiya Thomas. Zakiya Thomas
Zakiya Thomas and Terri’Nae Williams were in a car on the night of August 25 heading north on Highway 680 in Walnut Creek when the car exited the freeway at a high rate of speed and crashed into a tree. KTVU News reported there is evidence that one of the girls may have been driving even though neither one of them was an experienced driver. A 47 year old family friend who owned the car also died in the crash. “It’s something that could have been prevented. They didn’t have a license and the person’s car they were in, it was his car. He had a license, so why did he let her drive,” said Adrienne Semien, Zakiya’s mother, to KTVU. Zakiya lost her brother three years ago to gun violence, and Zakiya was her mother’s only remaining child. She was set to graduate from Dewey Academy in December.
Terri’Nae Williams. Terri’Nae Williams
Terri’Nae Williams had just turned 18 years old in June. On a GoFundMe page, her sister, ShayNesha George said she “was an excellent student who was continuously on the honor roll. She was such a caring gentle free spirit. My baby sister had a whole future ahead of her, she loved school and looked forward to going to college and becoming a nurse. She loves fashion and beauty. She was an advocate against violence for Teens on Target in Oakland throughout her four years in high school and after. She was so beautiful, loving, funny, ambitious and strong. She inspired me.” Additionally, Castlemont staff said Terri’Nae was an honor roll student, and on both the Volleyball team and the Cheer team. She was also a student organizer with her 2020 graduating class. Here is a GoFundMe page created in her honor.
Zavier Patton. Zavier Patton
Zavier Patton was a 2019 graduate of Skyline High School where he took part in activities such as African American Male Achievement and played on the varsity boys basketball team. “Zavier was a very good, wise and beautiful soul. He was senselessly taken from this earth on August 15 in a drive by shooting. He is now on the list of innocent victims of crimes. Zavier was 19 years old and about to start his second year at California State University, Northridge. This young man had overcome and accomplished quite a bit at this point in his young life,” said Zavier’s brother, Bryan Bassette, and the rest of the family. Bassette is an assistant principal at Elmhurst United Middle School. “Zavier was an example of exemplary character and inspiration.”
Quinton Williams. Quinton Williams
Also recently lost to gun violence was Quinton Williams who attended Oakland High School, Fremont High and Skyline High. He was another beloved student who had a profound impact on those around him. He spent two years at Fremont High School, where Co-Principal Tom Skjervheim got to know him well. “Quinton was always one of our brightest stars; smart, hard-working and full of promise. In addition to being a star football player, he was also a nearly 4.0 GPA student.” He finished up his education at Gateway to College. His life was cut short on the first weekend of August. Here is a GoFundMe page set up in his honor.
Sampson Luu. Sampson Luu
Lastly, Sampson Luu lost his life to gun violence on August 6. He was a 2015 Skyline High School graduate, and had attended Roosevelt Middle School where he came back to work for EBAYC, the East Bay Asian Youth Center, as a teacher supporting students in the after school program. “Sampson stood for positivity and respect, he wanted to make his community a better place for all and make his family proud. Pray for his parents & his sister in this time of mourning,” said his friend, Erik Ortega on Twitter. Here’s Sampson speaking about his work at Roosevelt and what he felt people need to do in these challenging times.
“Each of these young people leave deep holes in the lives of those they left behind,” said Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell. “As a parent, I can only imagine the anguish their families must be experiencing. I implore anyone who gets behind the wheel of a car to exercise extreme caution, because one small mistake can lead to tragic consequences. My heart goes out to the families of Zakiya and Terri’Nae and their family friend. Likewise, I am always heartbroken when I hear that one of our young people was lost to gun violence. And here we have lost three bright young lives. Zavier, Quinton and Sampson all had profound impacts on their communities and I send my love to their family and friends. To people who think that violence is the answer, I remind you, it never is. You solve nothing when you use a gun, and only leave misery in your wake. I implore everyone to find ways to solve problems peacefully, and to teach our children to do the same.”
OUSD sends its deepest condolences to the families and friends of these five remarkable young people.
About the Oakland Unified School District
In California’s most diverse city, Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) is dedicated to creating a learning environment where “Every Student Thrives!” More than half of our students speak a non-English language at home. And each of our 81 schools is staffed with talented individuals uniting around a common set of values: Students First, Equity, Excellence, Integrity, Cultural Responsiveness and Joy. We are committed to preparing all students for college, career and community success.
To learn more about OUSD’s Full Service Community District focused on academic achievement while serving the whole child in safe schools, please visit OUSD.org and follow us @OUSDnews.
Post based on press release to Zennie62Media from Oakland Unified School District (OUSD)
OUSD’s Grab and Go Student Meal Service Returning to Summer Rules that Allow All Oakland Children to Receive Food Starting on Thursday, September 3
OUSD Grab and Go Meals
Oakland — After the first three weeks of the school year, in which our nutrition services team was required to verify all students receiving food attend our District-run schools, the federal government has made a big change. This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reversed course and announced that schools can now return to their grab and go policies from the summer.
Starting tomorrow, Thursday, September 3, all children in Oakland 18 years old and younger, can get food. They can be students in charter or private schools, or homeschooled. Students in our Young Adult Program can also receive food. It will include three meals for each weekday, and two meals for each weekend day. On Thursday, families will be able to pick up ten meals per child, plus other necessities courtesy of our partners across the city and county.
The fall semester policies that began on August 1 had caused a significant decline in participation in the District’s grab and go program, presumably because many families have children in both District-run schools, who could receive food, and charters or other schools, who could not. Another likely explanation is that the previous requirement that families had to show their students attend a District-run school might have scared some people off because they were worried their private information would fall into the hands of the federal government. The District assured families this would not happen, as OUSD does not give private student and family information to the federal government, yet it still likely contributed to the drop-off.
OUSD Grab and Go Meals
Our nutrition services staff will be taking attendance at the grab and go events, but families no longer have to prove their students attend District-run schools. “This is an exciting and welcome change,” said OUSD Nutrition Services Executive Director, Irene Reynolds. “Our role is to feed the young people of Oakland. It shouldn’t be to weed out families in need just because their children don’t attend our schools. Hunger is a critical issue in our city, especially now during the pandemic, and we must ensure all children receive the nutritious food they need to get them through this challenging time. We look forward to welcoming all families to our grab and go events on Monday and Thursday mornings, starting tomorrow.”
There are 22 sites across the District where families can pick up food from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and you can find a map and more information on our website, ousd.org/nutrition.
One additional note: as Monday is the Labor Day national holiday, there will be no grab and go event.
Please don’t forget to wear a mask to protect yourself and those around you.
About the Oakland Unified School District
In California’s most diverse city, Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) is dedicated to creating a learning environment where “Every Student Thrives!” More than half of our students speak a non-English language at home. And each of our 81 schools is staffed with talented individuals uniting around a common set of values: Students First, Equity, Excellence, Integrity, Cultural Responsiveness and Joy. We are committed to preparing all students for college, career and community success.
To learn more about OUSD’s Full Service Community District focused on academic achievement while serving the whole child in safe schools, please visit OUSD.org and follow us @OUSDnews.
Oakland – Oakland Unified School District announces its policy to serve nutritious meals every school day under the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and/or Afterschool Snack Program. Effective July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021, children are eligible for free or reduced-price meals if the household income is less than or equal to the federal guidelines
OUSD Lunch Time
Households do not need to turn in an application when the household receives a notification letter saying that all children automatically qualify for free meals when any household member receives benefits from CalFresh, CalWORKs, or FDPIR. Children who meet the definition of foster, homeless, migrant, or runaway, and children enrolled in their school’s Head Start program are eligible for free meals. Contact school officials if any child in the household is not on the notification letter. The household must let school officials know if they do not want to receive free or reduced-price meals.
Applications for the free and reduced-price meal program are available online at this email address: https://family.titank12.com/application/new?identifier=NY34JE Households that want to apply for meal benefits, must fill out one application for all children in the household. Households that need assistance can contact the Nutrition Services Department office at 2850 West Street, Oakland, CA 94608, or by phone at 510 879-1700.
Free Eligibility Scale
Households may complete an online application at any time during the school year. If you are not eligible now, but your household income goes down, household size goes up, or a household member starts receiving CalFresh, CalWORKs, or FDPIR, you may complete an application at that time. Information given on the application will be used to determine eligibility and may be verified at any time during the school year by school officials. The last four digits of the Social Security number from any adult household or checking that you do not have a Social Security number is required if you include income on the application.
Households that receive Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits, may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals by completing an online application.
Foster children are always eligible for free meals and may be included as a household member if the foster family chooses to also apply for the non-foster children on the same application. Including foster children as a household member may help the non-foster children qualify for free or reduced-price meals. If the non-foster children are not eligible, this does not keep foster children from receiving free meals. A completed application must be submitted for all children including foster children.
Your child’s eligibility status from last school year will continue into the new school year for up to 30 school days or until the school processes your new application whichever comes first, or your child is otherwise certified for free or reduced-price meals. After the 30 school days, your child will have to pay full price for meals, unless the household receives a notification letter for free or reduced-price meals. School officials do not have to send reminder or expired eligibility notices.
If you do not agree with the decision or results of verification, you may discuss it with school officials. You also have the right to a fair hearing, which may be requested by writing or calling the hearing official: Gabriel Valenzuela at 1000 Broadway, Suite 150, Oakland, 94607. That phone number is (510) 879-4281, and the fax is (510) 879-3678.
Oakland Unified School District is an equal opportunity provider.
About the Oakland Unified School District
In California’s most diverse city, Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) is dedicated to creating a learning environment where “Every Student Thrives!” More than half of our students speak a non-English language at home. And each of our 81 schools is staffed with talented individuals uniting around a common set of values: Students First, Equity, Excellence, Integrity, Cultural Responsiveness and Joy. We are committed to preparing all students for college, career and community success.
To learn more about OUSD’s Full Service Community District focused on academic achievement while serving the whole child in safe schools, please visit OUSD.org and follow us @OUSDnews.
This post based on a press release from OUSD to Zennie62Media, Inc.
Oakland – Just one week after handing out a major round of new #OaklandUndivided Chromebooks that students get to keep, Oakland Unified School District is updating the entire community on the overall effort to get 25,000 computers into the hands of Oakland’s public school students.
We have enough computers in our schools to ensure students have them for immediate use to engage in distance learning. To address the need for devices after schools went into distance learning in the spring, OUSD distributed nearly 23,000 Chromebooks and 7,000 wireless hotspot devices to students on loan from the schools. Most of our students have these loaners, if they haven’t already received their own computer. If your student has yet to receive even a loaner, please contact your school principal. Also, if you have yet to do so, please fill out the Tech Check Survey. Once the #OaklandUndivided campaign began, it became clear that the loaners were only a temporary fix that would soon no longer be needed.
OUSD Devices Delivered
The #OaklandUndivided partnership has purchased 25,000 computers that will replace the loaner devices, and 15,000 hotspots, to ensure every student in need in District-run and charter schools has the computer, internet, and tech support they need and deserve to be successful. In total, the #OaklandUndivided team has already given to students almost 6,000 of the permanent laptops that they can keep, including roughly 4,000 over the past week, plus 2,800 hotspots. These devices have gone out to students weeks earlier than expected, because the supply lines were not quite as backed up as expected.
OUSD Devices Delivered
As more of these new devices arrive, they are first being sent to school sites with high completion rates of the Tech Check Survey to be distributed to students. By the end of September, our goal is that all students in need of a computer and internet – who have completed the survey – will receive their own Chromebooks and hotspots (that they get to keep).
As devices come in for students, the individual school communities will determine when it is safest and least disruptive for their community to distribute the #OaklandUndivided Chromebooks out to students and families. While we await the arrival of touchscreen devices – which are expected to be delivered in the fall – students in TK to first grade and identified students receiving Special Education services will continue to have computers and internet access through their OUSD loaner device.
If you or a student you know needs a device now for remote learning, help spread the word to get everyone connected:
To get a loaner device immediately, contact your school site and let them know your needs.
To receive your permanent laptop and internet device, complete the Tech Check Survey online or with support from school site staff in order to receive a computer and internet access. As of August 24, the families of more than 24,800 students have completed the survey.
OUSD Devices Delivered
Even if you have a device on loan, you should still complete the Tech Check Survey to determine eligibility so you can receive your own, permanent computer and consistent internet access. Families can visit undivided.techexchange.org directly to register online, or connect with their school site for details about receiving their device.
OUSD students with their #OaklandUndivided devices
We thank members of the community who told us they were interested in an update on the progress we have made with the #OaklandUndivided campaign. We could not have gotten this far without the support from our community, and all the amazing people and organizations who have provided financial assistance to this effort. Provided your student qualifies for a device to keep, the school will contact you via email or text with details of how and when to pick it up.
We reached our first goal shortly after we started the campaign, but there are still goals that lie ahead, as we plan to provide computers and internet access to all Oakland students who need them every year moving forward. If you’re interested in joining our #OaklandUndivided movement – here is how you can get involved:
To learn more about #OaklandUndivided, please visit www.oaklandedfund.org/digitaldivide.
To make a donation or discuss a potential financial contribution, contact:
● David Silver, Mayor’s Office of Education at [email protected]
● Jonathan Osler, Oakland Public Education Fund at [email protected]
● Curtiss Sarikey, Oakland Unified School District at [email protected]
About the Oakland Unified School District
In California’s most diverse city, Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) is dedicated to creating a learning environment where “Every Student Thrives!” More than half of our students speak a non-English language at home. And each of our 81 schools is staffed with talented individuals uniting around a common set of values: Students First, Equity, Excellence, Integrity, Cultural Responsiveness and Joy. We are committed to preparing all students for college, career and community success.
To learn more about OUSD’s Full Service Community District focused on academic achievement while serving the whole child in safe schools, please visit OUSD.org and follow us @OUSDnews.
Post based on press release from OUSD to Zennie62Media, Inc.
OUSD and Oakland Education Association Issue Joint Statement Announcing that OEA Members Have Voted to Ratify the Agreement on Distance Learning
Oakland – On Sunday evening, August 23, 2020, Oakland Unified School District and the Oakland Education Association (OEA) are releasing the joint statement below announcing that the members of OEA voted to ratify the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding distance learning. Included in this communication are the statement, this link to an online version of it, and this link to the MOU.
August 23, 2020
Dear Staff, Parents, Students, Partners and School Community:
Congratulations on completing the first couple of weeks of school during this most unique, challenging and unprecedented time. We are pleased to announce that the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) and Oakland Education Association (OEA) have reached an Agreement that prioritizes health and safety as well as a rigorous learning experience despite the unprecedented challenges we are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The agreement has now been ratified by OEA members and will be implemented starting Monday, August 24, 2020.
As you know, Oakland Unified launched the school year in distance learning. OUSD and OEA were in negotiations about the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and Governor Gavin Newsom’s planned response to it in support of more than 2,000 teachers, nurses, counselors and other OEA members that support our students.
While we do not always agree on the details, both OEA and OUSD are passionate about serving Oakland’s students and families. After working diligently to reach an agreement to shape distance learning for all students and OEA members, we are prepared to improve distance learning in order to provide the quality instruction that Oakland’s students need and deserve.
In California’s most diverse city, Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) is dedicated to creating a learning environment where “Every Student Thrives!” More than half of our students speak a non-English language at home. And each of our 81 schools is staffed with talented individuals uniting around a common set of values: Students First, Equity, Excellence, Integrity, Cultural Responsiveness and Joy. We are committed to preparing all students for college, career and community success.
To learn more about OUSD’s Full Service Community District focused on academic achievement while serving the whole child in safe schools, please visit OUSD.org and follow us @OUSDnews.
Oakland, CA – On August 12, 2020, the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) and the Oakland Education Association (OEA) reached a tentative bargaining agreement on distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic this fall. Our common goal is to provide the best possible education for Oakland students.
This agreement is subject to ratification by OEA members which is now scheduled to occur by the end of day on Friday, August 21, 2020. We look forward to providing additional details and guidance to all students, staff and families in the coming days.
Thank you for your patience as we ramp up the rigorous instruction our students need and deserve.
About the Oakland Unified School District
In California’s most diverse city, Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) is dedicated to creating a learning environment where “Every Student Thrives!” More than half of our students speak a non-English language at home. And each of our 81 schools is staffed with talented individuals uniting around a common set of values: Students First, Equity, Excellence, Integrity, Cultural Responsiveness and Joy. We are committed to preparing all students for college, career and community success.
To learn more about OUSD’s Full Service Community District focused on academic achievement while serving the whole child in safe schools, please visit OUSD.org and follow us @OUSDnews.
About the Oakland Unified School District
In California’s most diverse city, Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) is dedicated to creating a learning environment where “Every Student Thrives!” More than half of our students speak a non-English language at home. And each of our 81 schools is staffed with talented individuals uniting around a common set of values: Students First, Equity, Excellence, Integrity, Cultural Responsiveness and Joy. We are committed to preparing all students for college, career and community success.
To learn more about OUSD’s Full Service Community District focused on academic achievement while serving the whole child in safe schools, please visit OUSD.org and follow us @OUSDnews.
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