Oakland Unified moves ahead with plans to close and merge schools

The Oakland Unified school board voted Wednesday night to close and merge some of its schools in the fall of 2022, the Oaklandside reports.

Now out for summer, OUSD students will return to campuses on August 9 for the 2021-2022 school year. But just one week later, school staff and students will find out if their school will close or merge with another. Principals will be notified at the end of July.

The decision is part of the district’s Citywide Plan to increase students’ access to higher-quality schools by closing some and expanding others that have more successful programs. District officials also hope the consolidation will alleviate budget woes stemming from under-enrolled schools.

But board members and other school community members are now raising concerns about the impacts of more school closures following a difficult and isolating year of distance learning.

“I have no doubt that we do need to make some significant changes around addressing the quality in our schools and the number. I have some concerns around the short timelines around both engagement and decision-making,” board director Aimee Eng, who represents District 2, said during Wednesday’s school board meeting, according to the Oaklandside. “The early fall just does not put us as board members in a great position to be able to weigh the decision around recommendations and also the potential impact.”