Morning reads for Oakland: School Board stories, Ise Lyfe rules, Oak Knoll, PG&E power grab
The Black Hour: Laticia Booker leads a fast break
Okay, it's another Monday. But it's spring!
You don't want to miss My's Music Monday feature on the amazing Ise Lyfe--and when you read our article PLEASE make sure to listen to Beautiful, the most amazing song. Also make sure you check out Cynthia's story about Oakland Unified School District Chief Tony Smith's talk to GO Oakland last week--it is full of details you will want to know. Example: Did you know the state considers the Oakland SD the most improved urban school district in the state last year?
GO also has an interview with Oakland School Board with Director Jody London: One quote--"When I talk about fiscal challenges, people need to understand that 80% of our budget comes from Sacramento. Certain realities we face are because we are heavily dependent on funding from State. People feel their local taxes are paying for our schools, but those local taxes go to the State and are reallocated."
Also check out this CaliforniaWatch story about a new state report from the California Rehabilitation Oversight Board that casts doubt on whether the department can reduce inmate recidivism “after laying off approximately 800 teachers, severely restricting the time spent in class, eliminating many vocational programs and cutting in-prison substance abuse programming to 90 days.”
Given the number of young males in prison, especially African-Americans, that news gives some resonance to a Facebook friend's note that observes: "There are more African Americans under correctional control today -- in prison or jail, on probation or parole -- than were enslaved in 1850, a decade before the Civil War began. In other words, slavery never ended."