TODAY (Tuesday) Up to 1,000 to Rally for Oakland Schools

by Coalition to Defend and Improve Public School

Tue, Mar 15, 2005 12:39AM

What: The Coalition to Defend and Improve Public
Education will be holding a major rally today
When: (Tuesday, March 15th) beginning at 4PM
Where: At the California State Building on 1515 Clay
Street in Downtown Oakland.

What: The Coalition to Defend and Improve Public
Education will be holding a major rally today
When: Tuesday, March 15th beginning at 4PM
Where: At the California State Building on 1515 Clay
Street in Downtown Oakland.
Why: Today is the day that "March 15th" Layoff Letters
are officially sent out to hundreds of Oakland
teachers. Many teachers have received their letters
already, including adult education, and a large
portion of music and art teachers, and will present
them at the rally.

Contact: Kali Akuno - 510.593.3956
Fannie Brown - 510.610.0107

For more information: http://www.stoprandyward.com

§More Extensive Press Release and Demands

by Coalition to Defend and Improve Public School

Wed, Mar 16, 2005 8:43AM

Media Advisory, Tuesday, March 15, 2005

Coalition to Defend and Improve Public Education Holds Rally at State Building, Requests Meeting with Senator Perata

Rally to Draw Hundreds at 4PM at the California State Building, 1515 Clay Street in Downtown Oakland

The Coalition to Defend and Improve Public Education is requesting a meeting with State Senator Don Perata on Tuesday, March 15th at 4:30 pm to discuss the implementation of its demands to end the state takeover of OUSD and the crisis in public education in Oakland.

The Coalition is demanding that Senator Perata make good on his commitments to push for legislation to end the state takeover of OUSD and solve the crisis of public education in Oakland. These commitments included:

1. Sponsor a bill that would create a pilot program of mentorship for teachers in the Oakland schools facing the most serious challenges. Funding for the program would come from reductions in the return of parolees to prison for technical violations.
2. Demand that Randolph Ward provide a recovery plan and timeline for return of local control and to meet with OCC and the citizens of Oakland for genuine dialogue.
3. Pressure State School Superintendent, Jack O'Connell, to cancel the debt owed by OUSD to the State.

The Coalition to Defend and Improve Public Education is also demanding the following:

1. No Mass Layoffs: Support Our Teachers
2. Fully Fund Public Education in California
3. Small Class Sizes with Quality Teachers and Staff
4. Safe, Clean, and Up-to-Date Facilities
5. Support Teachers & Curriculum that Reflect Our Community
6. Keep Oakland Unified, Support Strong Unions.

The Coalition to Defend and Improve Public Education includes the following organizations:

American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local #771

American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees

(AFSCME) Local #257

Bay Area Local Organizing Committee (BayLOC)

Education not Incarceration (ENI)

International Longshoremen’s Union (ILWU) Local #10

Malcolm X Grassroots Movement (MXGM)

Million Worker March

Oakland ACORN

Oakland Coalition of Congregations (OCC)

Oakland Parents Together (OPT)

Oakland Education Association (OEA/CTA/NEA)

Tojil/Xicano Moratorium Coalition (XMC)

To Contact the Coalition: 510.593.3956

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