Oakland (Special to ZennieReport.com) – OUSD is in financial crisis. If nothing is done the district will likely run out of money before the end of the school year and it is projected that there will be an over $80M deficit in 2026-27 that must be addressed.
In August OUSD Superintendent Saddler and CBO Grant-Dawson informed the school board that they must approve directions for staff on what budget balancing solutions to pursue by October 8.
On September 12 Alameda County Superintendent Castro sent the school board the adopted budget review, which is required under the California Education Code. In the review Castro stated that because the 2025-26 budget received conditional approval, by October 8 the school board must:
“a. Review and respond to these concerns at a regular meeting of the Board. That response shall include any revisions to the 2025-26 Adopted Budget, updated fund balances as a result of 2024-25 Unaudited Actuals, and other proposed
actions to be taken to resolve these concerns in the current year; andApprove a Board resolution that outlines the timeline and plan to implement budget-balancing solutions that address any budgetary shortfall in 2025-26 and 2026-27.”
To date the board has done nothing to meet the October 8 deadline set by both Superintendent Saddler and County Superintendent Castro. No conversations in open nor closed session, no study sessions, no special meetings.
Today President Brouhard and VP Bachelor submitted a resolution, without consulting the full school board, and scheduled it for a first read at Wednesday’s school board meeting and to have a final vote on it at the October 8 board meeting. It is grossly inadequate and will not satisfy the requirements to direct staff set by Superintendent Saddler nor the conditions set by Superintendent Castro under the Ed Code to ensure fiscal solvency. Their resolution is reminiscent of their Alternative Budget Solutions that they passed in March and then had to repeal two months later once its damaging impacts became known publicly. Their new resolution that was supposed to direct staff on budget balancing solutions for 2025-26 and 2026-27,
Does not provide direction to staff
Ignores the requirements set by the county and Ed Code
Does not address the 2025-26 budget
Does not full identify nor address the projected budget deficits in 2026-27 and 2027-28
Does not address the need for for additional resources to settle contracts with our labor partners
Written so poorly that much of it is not even actionable
Again the Oakland School Board leadership and majority have failed it the most basic fiduciary duties. If we fail to meet the October 8 deadline the financial crisis will deepen and the California Education Code will dictate that the county assume control of OUSD’s finances.
We have a series of upcoming meetings that everyone should attend and speak out at.
Monday September 22 3:30pm-5:30pm Ed Partnership Committee at City Hall
Wednesday September 24 5:30pm School Board Meeting at La Escuelita 1025 2nd Ave
Thursday October 2 5pm-6:30pm Budget & Finance Committee Meeting
Wednesday October 5:30pm School Board Meeting at La Escuelita 1025 2nd Ave
Doing nothing is never an option. Our students and staff are already being harmed by the mismanagement of the board majority. If the community doesn’t force a change then the county superintendent must step in.
https://ousd.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=14795048&GUID=1C5BDAC6-63E8-4305-B4FF-A66AFD08E543