S13 18-1673 Subject: Funding Restorative Justice And Libraries For Our Youth
From: Council President Kaplan, Councilmember Bas,Thao And Gallo
Recommendation: Adopt A Resolution Authorizing The Use Of One-Time Revenues In Excess Real Estate Transfer Tax In The Amount Of $1,200,000 From Fiscal Year 2018-2019 To Restore Library, Restorative Justice Programs, And Foster Youth Case Managers As A Grant To The Oakland Unified School District (OUSD)
Please vote Yes to support Oakland students by funding school libraries, restorative justice and foster youth services. Hills schools have PTA funded libraries, all Oakland students deserve the same access to professionally staffed libraries with engaging books and programs that improve literacy and expand opportunities. I come from a low-income, turbulent family without books in the home but my SF schools had libraries that saved me by opening up new worlds and possibilities. I am now a home owning, Oakland taxpayer with an advanced degree and a daughter who benefited from the library at her hills school. I'm also an OUSD Library Tech and know how important the library is to my students. They were devastated when our library closed for 5 months but were thrilled when it opened again, and use it every day. I'd like all Oakland students to have the same opportunities my daughter and I had, and I'm proud that my city council is addressing the needs of all Oakland youth. Thank you!
As a library technician at two flatland schools, I find this to be of upmost importance to ensure our children have the support and equitable resources to succeed in not just their educational careers, but life. I have seen firsthand how libraries have served an important role in opening minds and hearts to new concepts and motivating students to learn. I'm amazed that even with the accessibility of internet, my students still want to pick up a book about an animal/subject they're interested in.
I work hard to ensure my students have books that motivate them to want to read, even without a book budget, I've managed to have reluctant readers come in and tell me how excited they are after reading a book I recommended or they picked on their own. Most of my kids read below reading level so having this library open for the past year has been integral for student engagement in literacy. Please support this so we can continue serving our Oakland children the best we can!
I am an Oakland resident and mental health clinician serving OUSD students. I have seen firsthand how integral restorative justice programming is to the students in our district. Restorative justice teaches students vital SEL skills that support their ability to build healthy relationships as well as their ability to develop capacity to engage in the classroom. Furthermore, restorative justice was brought to OUSD as a result of research that demonstrated a pervasive problem of inequity in discipline and disproportionate use of exclusionary discipline for students of color. RJ is an approach that has been working to close that gap and ensure that all students in OUSD have the support they need to thrive. The work done at the school I am assigned to would not be nearly as effective without the support of our RJ coordinator. I urge you to pass this resolution to maintain funding for these vital programs.
I am an Oakland resident, OUSD parent, and OUSD Library Tech. Thank you for recognizing the importance of fundamental programs for Oakland students. Many students depend on their school library as the only access to free and independent reading. School libraries are safe places for ALL Oakland students, with curated collections and extensive library programming that fosters student achievement. It would take 1.7 million to maintain and staff current open libraries in the district. Restorative Justice and Foster Youth services are also essential to our Oakland youth. Thanks for making Oakland youth a priority.
Our schools need this support. The school district has not made student supports a priority, THANK YOU to City Council members for stepping up to fill in the gap for one of OUSD's most important programs (restorative justice), as well as the support that foster youth need to succeed, and libraries.
Thank you, Councilmembers, for doing what the OUSD Board has neglected to do for years - prioritize Oakland kids. Restorative Justice, Foster Youth and libraries couldn't be more important for OUSD kids, and your support for them is much-needed and appreciated.
I am a parent of a public school student in OUSD and a home owner. I was dismayed and disheartened to learn that OUSD was cutting the successful RJ and foster youth programs. These are the children who need our help and advocacy most and OUSD has turned their backs on them. I hope that Oakland can make this right. We cannot claim to be a progressive city and a safe-haven and then turn our backs on our most vulnerable youth.
I urge you to vote YES for the Resolution to restore funding to restore programs recently cut by the School Board. I am a PTA-paid librarian so this funding will not affect our school or library program, but ALL OUSD students deserve a vibrant school library staffed by trained, qualified staff.
I am the librarian at Frick Impact Academy in East Oakland. Due to changes in funding allocations for OUSD library services, my position has been cut and my library is under threat of closure next year. My students have expressed dismay and distrust in OUSD administration for making decisions against the interests of the students they serve. For some of my students, the library is their saving grace. They come to the library because it's a safe space for them to grow, learn, read, and be entertained. Some of my students do not have easy access to books and information resources. Their families may fear for their safety, making trips to the neighborhood library branch challenging. I urge you to support this funding recommendation because it is of vital importance that our school library remain open for our students. Thank you City Council for voting in the interests of our future Oakland leaders and supporting library services, restorative justice, and foster care youth.
I am a math teacher at Roosevelt Middle School. I was born and raised in Oakland. My job would be virtually impossible without the Restorative Justice programs and personnel at Roosevelt. Our Restorative Justice programs teach our students to resolve interpersonal conflicts in a safe and healthy manner. Building these skills helps them recover from conflicts and be present in class and therefore prepared to learn math. If Restorative Justice is cut, there will be negative impacts at my campus and district wide. Please fund Restorative Justice.
Speaking as a 4-year Oakland middle school teacher, I can assure you that RJ practices work, they decrease suspensions and expulsions, they teach students vital personal self-awareness skills, and community communication skills that keep students in school, happy and learning. They work and they hold our schools and communities together! Please, please, please support this agenda item and fund these critical operations in OUSD!
Our Oakland youth - our OUSD students - need you. They need vital Library, Restorative Justice and Foster Youth programs that should have never been cut from the budget. We are all so very grateful that you are considering supporting their well being and educations through this grant. Please say YES to support the future of Oakland! Thank you!
Please vote Yes to support Oakland students by funding school libraries, restorative justice and foster youth services. Hills schools have PTA funded libraries, all Oakland students deserve the same access to professionally staffed libraries with engaging books and programs that improve literacy and expand opportunities. I come from a low-income, turbulent family without books in the home but my SF schools had libraries that saved me by opening up new worlds and possibilities. I am now a home owning, Oakland taxpayer with an advanced degree and a daughter who benefited from the library at her hills school. I'm also an OUSD Library Tech and know how important the library is to my students. They were devastated when our library closed for 5 months but were thrilled when it opened again, and use it every day. I'd like all Oakland students to have the same opportunities my daughter and I had, and I'm proud that my city council is addressing the needs of all Oakland youth. Thank you!
As a library technician at two flatland schools, I find this to be of upmost importance to ensure our children have the support and equitable resources to succeed in not just their educational careers, but life. I have seen firsthand how libraries have served an important role in opening minds and hearts to new concepts and motivating students to learn. I'm amazed that even with the accessibility of internet, my students still want to pick up a book about an animal/subject they're interested in.
I work hard to ensure my students have books that motivate them to want to read, even without a book budget, I've managed to have reluctant readers come in and tell me how excited they are after reading a book I recommended or they picked on their own. Most of my kids read below reading level so having this library open for the past year has been integral for student engagement in literacy. Please support this so we can continue serving our Oakland children the best we can!
I am an Oakland resident and mental health clinician serving OUSD students. I have seen firsthand how integral restorative justice programming is to the students in our district. Restorative justice teaches students vital SEL skills that support their ability to build healthy relationships as well as their ability to develop capacity to engage in the classroom. Furthermore, restorative justice was brought to OUSD as a result of research that demonstrated a pervasive problem of inequity in discipline and disproportionate use of exclusionary discipline for students of color. RJ is an approach that has been working to close that gap and ensure that all students in OUSD have the support they need to thrive. The work done at the school I am assigned to would not be nearly as effective without the support of our RJ coordinator. I urge you to pass this resolution to maintain funding for these vital programs.
I am an Oakland resident, OUSD parent, and OUSD Library Tech. Thank you for recognizing the importance of fundamental programs for Oakland students. Many students depend on their school library as the only access to free and independent reading. School libraries are safe places for ALL Oakland students, with curated collections and extensive library programming that fosters student achievement. It would take 1.7 million to maintain and staff current open libraries in the district. Restorative Justice and Foster Youth services are also essential to our Oakland youth. Thanks for making Oakland youth a priority.
Please fund these important programs!
Oakland schools need this. How great you're considering such a good use of tax dollars. Next up - what about fixing the potholes and sinkholes ;)
Our schools need this support. The school district has not made student supports a priority, THANK YOU to City Council members for stepping up to fill in the gap for one of OUSD's most important programs (restorative justice), as well as the support that foster youth need to succeed, and libraries.
Thank you, Councilmembers, for doing what the OUSD Board has neglected to do for years - prioritize Oakland kids. Restorative Justice, Foster Youth and libraries couldn't be more important for OUSD kids, and your support for them is much-needed and appreciated.
I am a parent of a public school student in OUSD and a home owner. I was dismayed and disheartened to learn that OUSD was cutting the successful RJ and foster youth programs. These are the children who need our help and advocacy most and OUSD has turned their backs on them. I hope that Oakland can make this right. We cannot claim to be a progressive city and a safe-haven and then turn our backs on our most vulnerable youth.
I urge you to vote YES for the Resolution to restore funding to restore programs recently cut by the School Board. I am a PTA-paid librarian so this funding will not affect our school or library program, but ALL OUSD students deserve a vibrant school library staffed by trained, qualified staff.
I am the librarian at Frick Impact Academy in East Oakland. Due to changes in funding allocations for OUSD library services, my position has been cut and my library is under threat of closure next year. My students have expressed dismay and distrust in OUSD administration for making decisions against the interests of the students they serve. For some of my students, the library is their saving grace. They come to the library because it's a safe space for them to grow, learn, read, and be entertained. Some of my students do not have easy access to books and information resources. Their families may fear for their safety, making trips to the neighborhood library branch challenging. I urge you to support this funding recommendation because it is of vital importance that our school library remain open for our students. Thank you City Council for voting in the interests of our future Oakland leaders and supporting library services, restorative justice, and foster care youth.
I am a math teacher at Roosevelt Middle School. I was born and raised in Oakland. My job would be virtually impossible without the Restorative Justice programs and personnel at Roosevelt. Our Restorative Justice programs teach our students to resolve interpersonal conflicts in a safe and healthy manner. Building these skills helps them recover from conflicts and be present in class and therefore prepared to learn math. If Restorative Justice is cut, there will be negative impacts at my campus and district wide. Please fund Restorative Justice.
Speaking as a 4-year Oakland middle school teacher, I can assure you that RJ practices work, they decrease suspensions and expulsions, they teach students vital personal self-awareness skills, and community communication skills that keep students in school, happy and learning. They work and they hold our schools and communities together! Please, please, please support this agenda item and fund these critical operations in OUSD!
Our Oakland youth - our OUSD students - need you. They need vital Library, Restorative Justice and Foster Youth programs that should have never been cut from the budget. We are all so very grateful that you are considering supporting their well being and educations through this grant. Please say YES to support the future of Oakland! Thank you!