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by the undersigned 170 OUSD teachers
This open letter was drafted by teachers at Oakland Technical High School, then sent out for teachers all over OUSD to sign.
Dear Oakland Community,
A Tentative Agreement (TA) has been reached between the bargaining teams of OUSD and our teachers’ union. Although media outlets, OUSD and OEA are presenting this tentative agreement as a major “win” for teachers, this narrative ignores several issues central to our strike and the long-term health of our school community.
This strike is not simply about a salary increase – we are fighting for schools that our students deserve. The TA fails to adequately address the threat of school closures and the impossible demands placed on counselors and nurses.
The TA fails to adequately address the threat of school closures and the impossible demands placed on counselors and nurses.
In fact, nurse caseloads will increase under this proposed agreement. Also, the TA includes nothing concrete to address school closures, allowing the School Board to push through its plans to close 24 more schools and opening the door for the continued privatization of Oakland education.
Many suspect that the publicized 11 percent raise (over four years) is meant to distract us from the lack of progress on other essential issues. We refuse to be used as a divisive wedge within the district to defund student programs that increase equity and serve our highest-need students – such as Restorative Justice, APISA, AAMA and foster care youth programs, among others.
We refuse to be used as a divisive wedge within the district to defund student programs that increase equity and serve our highest-need students – such as Restorative Justice, APISA, AAMA and foster care youth programs, among others.
We do not want to be bought off at the expense of everyone else.
Regarding proposed salary changes, many educators feel the TA’s slow, incremental pay increase will not help us address the immediate teacher shortage crisis we face right now. Offering us a prolonged pay increase is deceptive, because prolonging the timing decreases the value of the raise compared to inflation. The teacher retention crisis will not end with this TA.
Offering us a prolonged pay increase is deceptive, because prolonging the timing decreases the value of the raise compared to inflation. The teacher retention crisis will not end with this TA.
They say educators are the heart of Oakland, but students are the soul. This strike is a battle for the soul of Oakland. That’s why many OEA members are considering a NO vote.
El Acuerdo tentativo ‘gran victoria’ – ‘gran pérdida’
Estimada comunidad de Oakland,
Se ha alcanzado un acuerdo provisional (AT) entre los equipos de negociación de OUSD y el sindicato de maestros (OEA). Si bien los medios de comunicación, OUSD y OEA presentan este acuerdo tentativo como un “logro” importante para los maestros, esta narrativa ignora varios temas centrales para nuestra huelga y la salud a largo plazo de nuestra comunidad escolar.
Esta huelga no se trata simplemente de un aumento de sueldo, estamos luchando para las escuelas que nuestros estudiantes merecen. El AT no aborda adecuadamente la amenaza de cierres escolares y las demandas imposibles de los asesores y enfermeras. De hecho, la cantidad de casos de enfermería aumentará en virtud de este acuerdo propuesto. Además, la asistencia técnica incluye nada concreto para abordar el cierre de escuelas, lo que permite a la junta escolar llevar a cabo sus planes para cerrar otras 24 escuelas y abrir las puertas para que la privatización de la educación en Oakland continue.
Muchos sospechan que el aumento publicitado del 11% (a través de 4 años) está destinado a distraernos de la falta de progreso en otras cuestiones esenciales. Nos negamos a ser utilizados como una cuña divisoria dentro del distrito para desembolsar programas estudiantiles que aumentan la equidad y sirven a nuestros estudiantes con mayores necesidades (tales como Justicia Restaurativa, APISA y AAMA, y programas para jóvenes en hogares de guarda, entre otros). No queremos ser comprados a expensas de todos los demás.
Con respecto a los cambios de salario propuestos, muchos educadores consideran que el aumento lento y gradual y no nos ayudará a abordar la crisis inmediata de escasez de maestros que enfrentamos en este momento. Ofrecernos un aumento de salario prolongado es engañoso, porque prolongar el tiempo disminuye el valor del aumento en comparación con la inflación. La crisis de retención de maestros no terminará con esta AT.
Dicen que los educadores son el corazón de Oakland, pero los estudiantes son el alma. Esta huelga es una batalla para el alma de Oakland. Es por eso que muchos miembros de la OEA están considerando un voto de NO.
En comunidad,
In Community,
Janis Falco, Newcomer Program/RISE Academy, Oakland High ELD
Seth Zimmerman, Math & Debate, Oakland Technical High School
Sarah Trauben, Government and English, Oakland Technical High School
Karina Orle, Science, Oakland Technical High School
Errico Bachicha, Math, Oakland Technical High School
Kevin Ji, Math, Oakland Technical High School
Nicholas Rey, Teacher on Special Assignment, Oakland Technical High School
Sara Ketcham, Computer Academy Pathway Lead and English, Oakland Technical High School
Deborah Green, Visual Art Teacher, Oakland Technical High School
Brenda Rivera, Cal Studies and 9th Grade Board, Oakland Technical High School
Heath Madom, Race Policy and Law Pathway Lead and English, Oakland Technical High School
Beverly Berning, French, Oakland Technical High School
Moss Hahn, Special Education, Oakland Technical High School
Joel Wing, Social Studies, Oakland Technical High School
Coriander Melious, Education Specialist Mild/Moderate, Oakland Technical HS
Diane Johnson, Project Lead the Way Engineering Academy Director, Oakland High
Clifford Daigle, Science, Oakland Technical HS
Lauchlin Cruickshanks, Science, Oakland Technical HS
Peter Heckel, Animation, Oakland Technical HS
Deborah Morris, Special Education, Oakland Technical HS
Elizabeth Haugen, 11th Grade Paideia Teacher and Social Studies Chair, Oakland Technical High School
Sherry Kassenbrock, OUSD School Nurse
Natalie Mann, Math Department Chair, Oakland Technical High School
Rumeli Snyder, Credentialed School Social Worker for newcomer students, Oakland High School
Rumi Koshino, Art Department Chair, Oakland High School
Franco DeMarinis, Science Chair, Oakland Technical High School
Alex Webster Guiney, Special Education Specialist, Oakland High School
Lara Trale, English, Oakland High School
Pejing Lee, Science, Oakland Technical High School
Justin Hobaugh, Math, Oakland High School
Sara Richard- STIP Claremont Middle
Sam Youts, Science Claremont Middle Rachel Friedman, TSA (Instructional Coach), Claremont Middle
Erica Saephan, School Counselor, Montera Middle School
Aly Kronick, Academic Literacy, Oakland International High School
Anastacia Love, Engineering Academy Co-Director, Oakland Technical High School
Chris Rankin, English, Claremont Middle School
Ian Kaferle, History, Claremont Middle School
Sylvia Hahn, Special Education, Claremont Middle School
Alicia Jimenez, Special Education, Claremont Middle School
Donna Salonga, Ceramics, Skyline High School
Martha Elias, World Language, Skyline High School
Alicia Arnold, Visual Art & Design, Oakland Technical High School
Kehinde Salter, Performing Arts, Fremont High School
Matt Fields, Science, Oakland High
Taiwo Kujichagulia-Seitu, Performing Arts, Madison Park Academy
Carmen Mandić, Special Education, Oakland High School
Michael Holmes, ELA, Fremont High School
Roxanne Clement, CTE teacher, OHS
Sierra Flynn, science, Oakland Technical High School
Heather Merovich, Social Studies, Skyline High School
Ayo Akatugba, Physics, Skyline High School
Sophia Chaparro, ELD, Fremont High School
Susan Deniz Thacher, Math Teacher, Math Department Lead, Claremont Middle School
Jhunehl Fortaleza, History Teacher, Claremont Middle School
Jill Mammano-Neely, Blended Inclusion Teacher, Claremont Middle School
Gina Lozito, English Teach, Claremont Middle School
Dan Leal, Computer Science, Claremont Middle School
Max Washburn, Computer Science Teacher, Claremont Middle School
Ariel Thomas, History Teacher, Claremont Middle School
Rushelle Carriere, English Teacher, Claremont Middle School
Katie Bailey, English & US Government, Oakland Technical High School
Aaron Shewmaker, Special Education, Oakland Tech HS
Erin Posbergh, Physics, Oakland International High School
Jeremy Sutton, English Department Chair, Oakland Technical High School
Catalina del Canto, Ethnic Studies, Skyline High School
Ena Dallas, Performing Arts, Oakland Technical High School
Nicholas Sargent, Special Education, Oakland High School
Ariel Brown, Music Teacher, Claremont Middle School
Pj Johnson, Physical Education, Claremont Middle
Braden Gough, Science, Madison Park Academy
Kate Krumrei, Newcomer ELD, Urban Promise Academy
Crystal Barr, Art, Urban Promise Academy
Joseph Nejad-Duong, History, Fremont High School
Theresa Langston, School Counselor, Oakland Technical High School
James Treacy, Visual Art, Skyline High School
Johanna Langill, Oakland Technical High School
Kelly Hamel, Spanish, Oakland Technical High School
Elizabeth Hurt, OUSD School Nurse, Currently “assigned” to Joaquin Miller and Montera with a 2 day/week “Special Additional Assignment” of SpEd assessments
Amy Martinez, School Counselor, Oakland Technical High School
Jessica Fagen, English and Social Studies, Oakland Technical High School
Clarence Harris, Oakland Tech, Mathematics
Nathaniel Toutjian, Newcomer Art Teacher, Castlemont High School
Kristen Vetterlein, Grass Valley Elementary, Art Prep
Ronan Gillespie, Newcomer Assistant/Substitute Teacher, Oakland International High School
Mika Zelie, Mathematics, Claremont Middle School
Rosemary Marr, Visual Art/TSA School Culture, Castlemont High School
Richelle Parra, Mathematics, Skyline High School
Pilar Mendez-Cruz, Madison Park Academy, 7th grade ELA teacher
Lizzie Salzfass, TSA – Instructional Coach, Claremont Middle School
Mary Brune, Graphic Design Teacher, Madison Park Academy
Janet Vasquez, 6th Grade Math Teacher, Life Academy
Alyssa Sayavedra, Mathematics, Madison Park Academy.
Llaima Castro, SDC Teacher Grass Valley Elementary
Terri Van Hare, Science Teacher, Skyline High School
Anderson de Andrade, 5th Grade, International Community School
Nicholas Morrow, Math, MPA
Jacqueline Arnoldy, World Language Chair, Oakland Technical High School
Patricia Brandt, PE, Oakland Technical High School
Carlos Bover, PE, Oakland Technical High School
Jah-Yee Woo, English and U.S. History teacher, Oakland Technical High School
Stephen Clarke, Social Studies, Oakland Technical High School
Timothy Douglas, Dual Immersion Kindergarten, International Community School
Megan Robinson, Education Specialist, Skyline High School
Revaz Ardesher, History teacher, Hillcrest School
Marvin Boomer, Math Teacher, Castlemont High School
Lillian Jacobson, CTE Teacher, Castlemont High School
Felicidad Guirao, World Language Dept. Spanish , Oakland Technical High School
Corey Wallace, 3rd grade teacher, Manzanita Community School
Danielle Schaefer, OUSD School Nurse
David Smith, Mathematics, Oakland Technical High School
Kylie Dalton, Special Ed, Oakland High School
Vanessa Guerrero, Art, Oakland High School
Lawrence Mylander, 7th grade Social Studies, Madison Park Academy
Erika Hernandez, SDC Special Ed, Oakland International High School
Steve Wright, Computer Science, Oakland Technical High School
Randolph Li, Engineering, Oakland Technical High School
Noelle Bridge, Speech-Language Pathologist, Life and United for Success
Melissa Frost, New Highland Academy
Sara Green, Social Worker, Rudsdale Newcomer High School
Einam Livnat, substitute teacher
Thomas Wooding, Computer Science , Oakland High
Urina Kim, Chemistry, Skyline
Louie Alvidrez, Computer Science, Skyline
Sandra Ratto, Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments, Skyline
Maki Kasai, Biology, Skyline High School
Kathryn Ruggiero, World Languages, Oakland Technical High School
Douglas Stubblefield, English and World History teacher, Oakland Technical High School
Kimberly Aguilar, 1st grade Spanish Bilingual Teacher, New Highland Academy
Cristopher Bautista, English/History, Oakland Technical High School
Alyssa Berkins, English, Oakland High School
Susannah Schoff, ELD, Oakland High School
Nicole Green, ELA, Madison Park Academy
Manny Medina, Math, Oakland International HS
Sarah Nielsen Boyd, School nurse, Oakland Tech.
Lucinda Hymer, Biology, Skyline High School
Harry Pasternak, Government, Oakland Technical High School
Eden Balde, School Nurse, ECE
Nicholas Beasley, Construction Tech, Skyline High School
Cassandra Chen, Math Science, United for Success Academy
Zubin Hu, Math, Oakland Technical High School
Paul Antony-Levine, Science, United for Success Academy Middle School
Alexandra Zablotsky, Music, United for Success Academy Middle School
Heather Stephens, RSP, United for Success Academy Middle School
Linda Jones Bell OUSD School Nurse
Lacy Lefkowitz-TSA, Claremont Middle School
Mike Jones, English, Oakland High School
Shira Bannerman, RSP Teacher, Urban Promise Academy
Adrian Romer0, Math and Science, Urban Promise Academy
Judy Greenspan, Math and Science, United for Success
Miles Murray, English and Creative Writing, Oakland High School
Dennis Javelo, Math, Oakland Technical High School
Tracy Dordell, 3rd grade, New Highland Academy
Craig Dittmann, Physics, Madison Park
Mary K. Scott (Kate Krumrei), Newcomer ELD, Urban Promise Academy
Charlotte Downing, REACH Academy
Jordan Blumberg-Long, History, Skyline High School
Megan Bumpus, Science Prep, REACH Academy
Ashley Wallace, United for Success Academy
Clayton Evans, Engineering Teacher and Pathway Director, McClymonds High School
Ida Barnett, Math Teacher, Sojourner Truth Independent Study
Juli Bryant, English Teacher, Sojourner Truth Independent Study
Darryl King, Inclusion Teacher, Skyline High School
Liz Boner, English Teacher, Rudsdale Newcomer High School
Brian Katz, English Teacher, United for Success Academy
Morgan Ebbert, Mathematics, Madison Park Academy
Erika Guerrero, bilingual teacher, New Highland Academy
John Lennon Harrison, Reading Lightsail teacher, Alliance Academy
Michael Shane , Sojourner Truth Ind. Studies
Cory Jong, Humanities, Urban Promise Academy
Michael Nishida, STIP Substitute, United for Success Academy
Add your name and title by contacting teacher Taiwo Kujichagulia-Seitu at taiwoseitu@gmail.com, and it will be added to this document.
