Kyla Johnson-Trammell

April 14, 2023

50 years after he was assassinated, why Marcus Foster is more relevant than ever

Oakland Unified superintendent, slain by the SLA, remains beloved for his innovations and foresight.

December 22, 2020

Educators are frontline workers who should receive the vaccine as soon as possible

To open schools, Oakland Unified Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell argues that school staff be included in Phase 1b of vaccine distribution.

July 1, 2020

Oakland Unified wants voters to approve $735 million bond for school upgrades

Bond measure to be placed on the Nov. 3 ballot would cover one-fifth of the $3.4 billion need identified in a Facilities Master Plan.

June 3, 2020

Learning loss and achievement gaps top discussion on school reopening

State Board of Education President, Oakland Unified Superintendent and Hoover Institute fellow discuss inequities among returning students.

May 29, 2020

School district leaders from around the U.S. rethink education, emphasize online learning

Pandemic exposed the digital divide and the needs of students in crisis, leaders said, adding that more teacher training is also necessary.

May 28, 2020

Oakland Unified helps seniors overcome graduation challenges

District reaches out to families through wellness checks, changes grading and graduation requirements, provides some technology to seniors.

April 24, 2020

Amid pandemic, Oakland Unified extends superintendent’s contract, hires business officer

Contract through June 2023 would make Kyla Johnson-Trammell the district's longest-tenured superintendent in decades with six years in post.

March 6, 2020

Oakland school board votes $18.8 million in cuts, up to 100 layoffs; hears pleas to cut police force

The board voted to lay off about 100 workers to close its 2020-21 budget deficit, may consider eliminating its police force in the future.

February 4, 2020

Oakland Unified superintendent recommends laying off more than 68 staffers to close budget gap

The school board has agreed it must cut about $21.5 million from next year's budget but is now getting proposals on where to make those cuts

November 13, 2019

Oakland school chief's tenure at pivotal point

After two and a half years, Oakland Unified’s superintendent faces school closing protests, fallout from a teachers’ strike, and averting insolvency.

Louis Freedberg And Theresa Harrington

East Bay Schools

November 4, 2019

Oakland Unified moves forward with school closures despite protests

District officials offer to meet with protesters as Oakland and state teachers' unions echo demands for school closure moratorium until 2022.

September 12, 2019

Oakland school board’s vote to close schools draws ire from parents, teachers

Board agrees to close two schools and merge them with two others, expand another school, and invest in redesigning an elementary school.

August 30, 2019

Oakland superintendent: closing campuses will lead to improved schools

Oakland Unified School board expects to vote on second round of school closures, consolidations and expansions on Sept. 11.

June 26, 2019

How to close schools? Oakland finds out just how tough that can be

Fewer students and budget woes lead the Oakland Unified School District to propose closing or merging schools amid public opposition.

June 21, 2019

Teaching districts the ABCs of charter oversight; putting a school bond on 2020 ballot

This week: We interview the executive director of CARSNet, an organization run by the Alameda County Office of Education that offers bootcamps and tutorials in charter school responsibilities; and we talk with Kyla Johnson-Trammell, who has faced a teachers strike and possible insolvency during her first two years as Oakland Unified superintendent.