Jun 26, 2009 9:19 pm US/Pacific
Local Board Regains Control Of Oakland Schools
OAKLAND (BCN) ―
After six years of state control, the elected school board for Oakland's public schools will regain full control at a ceremony on Monday, school officials said Friday.
Oakland Unified School District spokesman Troy Flint said the school board has been negotiating with representatives of California Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell for some time and signed a memorandum of understanding around 5 p.m. Friday.
O'Connell and school board president Noel Gallo will sign the agreement at a ceremony at Calvin Simmons Middle School at 2101 35th Ave. in Oakland at 1 p.m. Monday, Flint said.
Oakland's schools were placed under state receivership in 2003 because they faced a huge budget deficit.
O'Connell returned community relations and governance to Oakland's school board in 2007 and he returned facilities and personnel management to local control on April 8, 2008.
But the areas of student achievement and financial management have remained under state control until now.
Flint said he thinks that legislation authored by Assemblyman Sandre Swanson, D-Alameda, that would have required the state to return local control to the school board on July 1 played a role in reaching an agreement.
Swanson's bill was approved by the state Assembly by a 44-26 margin on May 28 but was still pending in the state Senate.
O'Connell couldn't be reached for comment today but a news release from his office confirms that he will be in Oakland on Monday to sign the agreement.
In a statement, Gallo said, "It's been a long journey to this point and the fact that we've persevered through difficult times and emerged stronger for it is a tremendous testament to the dedication exhibited by the students, staff and families of the Oakland Unified School District as well as to the wider Oakland community."
Gallo said, "Now we must come together and focus on the task of accelerating student achievement and the personal development of our kids while solidifying the school district's finances in a challenging financial environment."
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