Author Archives: Ashley McBride

The number of Black OUSD students has dropped significantly over the last 20 years, with many pointing to harmful policies as the reason.

One group of students is surveying its peers on how their mental health has been affected by the pandemic and distance learning.

The proposal is part of a wider effort by the school board to stabilize the number of students attending district schools.

McClymonds High School has used a Native American mascot for most of its century-long history, and students say it needs to change.

The OUSD school board has four new members and a host of challenges to resolve in 2021, including how to reopen schools and implement a new district-wide safety plan.

Safety concerns, drawbacks of distance learning, and social isolation color families’ concerns as they weigh whether to return to school.

OUSD is redefining when it’s necessary to call police to school campuses, and creating a new department of culture and climate.

Some substitute teachers have started their own campaign to help spread the word about this special program, and make sure teachers and principals take advantage of it.

OUSD schools could open as early as January. But the district still has to negotiate with the teachers’ union and COVID case rates have to improve, which means a lot can still change.

Some parents say they want the teachers’ union and the district to come back to the bargaining table—and they want to be able to watch.

Thanks to voters, older students can now vote for school board members, and OUSD will get $735 million to improve schools. But there’s a few more hurdles first.

With the fall semester winding down and new board members coming in January, the final two regular Oakland Unified school board meetings of the year will be tackling big issues.