Tomorro (Wed) Community Meeting on Crisis in Oakland Schools

Letter of invitation from OEA President, Ben Visnick

January 4, 2005

Dear Labor, Interfaith and/or Community Leader,
This is an invitation for you to attend the first of
many community meetings to discuss the crisis in
Oakland’s schools and how we can stand together to
take action to preserve public education in Oakland.

As you know, Oakland’s schools are in crisis. Randy
Ward, Oakland’s State Appointed Administrator, is
working to undermine the very existence of public
education in our city. For the second year in a row
he is proposing to shut down schools in Oakland’s
poorest neighborhoods, which will keep students in
large over-crowded schools and force young students to
travel outside their neighborhoods to attend school.

In 2005, Ward’s attacks on our children now go beyond
closing their schools. He is also looking to force 13
Oakland public schools to become charter schools. He
is also working to cap school employees’ health care
coverage and take away specialty classes (such as art
and music) from Oakland’s children. He is seeking to
cut our already understaffed counselors, librarians,
home and hospital, and alternative educators. Dr.
Ward’s attacks also go deep into our schools’ food
workers and custodians, as well as aides and
substitutes.

It is time for us to take a stand for the future of
Oakland’s children! Please join us on Wednesday,
January 19, 2005, from 5PM to 8PM at the Oakland
Education Association office at 272 East 12th Street
(E. 12th Street and 3rd Avenue). Dinner will be
served. Please RSVP to me at (510) 763.4020x15.

Sincerely,

Ben Visnick
President, Oakland Education Association

cc: OEA Executive Board