Residents take OUSD to task for delays on community schools and reparations for Black students

Oakland Unified School District is behind schedule on implementing two important projects, one with over $75 million in state funding.  Educators, parents and students voiced their frustration at Wednesday’s board meeting, saying the district has failed on its promise to establish a task force on student equity and a committee to allocate a grant for community schools. “We have a very simple ask tonight,” said Kampala Taiz-Rancifer, vice president of the Oakland Education Association, during public comment. “That the board direct staff to implement both the Black Students Thriving Task Force and the community school steering committee by Feb. 1.”  OUSD received more money from the California Community Schools Partnership Program than any other district —  nearly $67 million in the 2021-22 school year and over $8 million the following year.  Some fear that without action, the money will not be renewed next year.  Taiz-Rancifer, who is also a parent and first-grade teacher, said the goal of the steering committee is to give the community a say in what happens with schools.  “When we say community schools, we actually mean that, you know, the community gets a voice in the process,” she said in a phone interview after the meeting....