This is a well written, accurate article. The best I’ve seen. I’m a long time Oakland resident and retired teacher from the district. Why the under enrolled schools are still being used I just don’t understand. Why the 4 board members supported by OEA can’t/won’t do the right thing, I don’t understand. Why OEA threatens strikes that are unnecessary and threaten students and parents, I don’t understand. What a sad district where the union is only for its self, not students.
A labor union like OEA has a place, but they have a narrow set of interests in trying to protect their own members' jobs. We see what happens when they are effectively negotiating against themselves on the school board: chaotic management that actually harms the interests of the whole district. They need to be put back in their proper place, and the school board needs to make the tough calls to bring the district back to financial health.
we need to get unions out of the business of running (& ruining) our schools & city. How about the focus be on what is best for the STUDENTS & Oakland.
Apart from OEA union dynamics, it would be helpful to get verified recent stats on administrative bloat. OUSD has a lot of prime property literally rotting in plain sight starting with the old administration building near lake Merritt channel.
- Administrative Spending Estimate: Nationally, administrative spending averages around 6.7% of school district budgets (2019-2020 data). There’s no specific percentage for OUSD’s administrative spending in recent sources, but a 2022 source highlights OUSD’s high administrative costs, noting 47 administrators earned over $200,000 and 27 over $300,000, suggesting a potentially higher-than-average administrative spend compared to similar-sized districts.
This is a well written, accurate article. The best I’ve seen. I’m a long time Oakland resident and retired teacher from the district. Why the under enrolled schools are still being used I just don’t understand. Why the 4 board members supported by OEA can’t/won’t do the right thing, I don’t understand. Why OEA threatens strikes that are unnecessary and threaten students and parents, I don’t understand. What a sad district where the union is only for its self, not students.
amen!
A labor union like OEA has a place, but they have a narrow set of interests in trying to protect their own members' jobs. We see what happens when they are effectively negotiating against themselves on the school board: chaotic management that actually harms the interests of the whole district. They need to be put back in their proper place, and the school board needs to make the tough calls to bring the district back to financial health.
we need to get unions out of the business of running (& ruining) our schools & city. How about the focus be on what is best for the STUDENTS & Oakland.
Apart from OEA union dynamics, it would be helpful to get verified recent stats on administrative bloat. OUSD has a lot of prime property literally rotting in plain sight starting with the old administration building near lake Merritt channel.
- Administrative Spending Estimate: Nationally, administrative spending averages around 6.7% of school district budgets (2019-2020 data). There’s no specific percentage for OUSD’s administrative spending in recent sources, but a 2022 source highlights OUSD’s high administrative costs, noting 47 administrators earned over $200,000 and 27 over $300,000, suggesting a potentially higher-than-average administrative spend compared to similar-sized districts.
I feel like $400k a year is too much for a superintendent of a district with $75M+ ongoing deficit, as well.
Yes, though given the state of the district I can see the argument that you need to pay over-market to get someone good to take the job.