School overhaul process 'unjust,' Oakland superintendent says
OAKLAND — Schools Superintendent Tony Smith told a crowd of frustrated parents and teachers Wednesday morning that the state had identified "the wrong set of schools" to undergo a major overhaul, one of four federally prescribed interventions for the nation's lowest-performing schools.
He said he found the process facing four of the city's public middle schools — new schools that have opened since 2006 — to be "unjust" and "unacceptable," and that the timeline to make the changes was far too short.
But those who were hoping the superintendent might go a step further and reject those interventions, which include school closure, charter conversion and principal and staff replacement, likely left the meeting disappointed.
"We also have to acknowledge that this is the law," Smith said. Later, he explained, "If the district does not follow through on the legal requirements, sanctions could include a return to state administration."
Districts scrambling
Districts around the Bay Area with schools on the lowest-achieving list, including Hayward, San Lorenzo, West Contra Costa and Mt. Diablo, are now scrambling to figure out how to move forward. If they apply for a federal school improvement grant, they will be required to undergo drastic changes by Aug. 30. If they forego the money, they could buy more time.
