E R O O M S E M A J Pat Patterson presents award to Rodney Wise for graduating from Howard Universary. He’s surrounded by his parents Gary and Samantha Wise, and friend Jalila Moore. A Nonprofit Community Newspaper • www.macarthurmetro.org See Maxwell Park News on page 5. Post Office Box 19046, Oakland, California 94619 • (510) 287-2655 Connecting the neighborhoods from Fruitvale Avenue to Seminary Avenue and from Foothill Boulevard to Warren Freeway since 1989 Volume 21 Number 7 September 2009 Oakland Schools Return to Local Control S N I helped to facilitate an orderly program that promotes a busi- the district’s debt stood at $89 G B Y S HARON H IGGINS IG H and transparent process for ness-model approach to the million. The loan will be repaid N O R gradually transferring power management of public schools. over the next 18 years. A n June, Oakland’s elected H S school board regained its back to Oakland’s school board. This approach is controversial Six of the seven current authority over the city’s An interim superintendent, within urban education-reform school board directors started I Roberta Mayor, was appointed discussion circles, where debate their terms after the events that public schools, marking the end of a six-year period during last summer to assist with con- is also heated about charter led up to the deficit. They, along which the State of California was cluding the transition. schools and teachers’ unions, with Superintendent Smith, are in control of the Oakland Unified The state had assumed as well as whether urban now responsible for all school School District (OUSD). Upon control of OUSD in May 2003 school districts should be run district decisions, although a having power restored, the after providing a $100 million by school boards or city mayors. State Trustee has veto power board unanimously appointed bailout loan to cover a deficit that Over the years, concerns over fiscal decisions. Former Dr. Tony Smith as OUSD’s was revealed in 2002. While the arose about the priorities of State Administrator Matthews new permanent superintendent. exact amount of the deficit has the state administrators. As has been appointed to that Smith was Deputy Superin- been disputed, most agree that it education reporter Katy Murphy position. tendent for the San Francisco was caused by poor accounting wrote: “Although financial Oakland Unified is one of Unified School District prior to practices in combination with problems triggered the Oakland eight California school districts joining OUSD. Previously, he rapidly declining enrollment. school district’s takeover, the taken over by the state because had served as the superintendent During its time under state state administration appeared to of financial problems. The others of Emeryville’s school district control, OUSD was managed be more focused on redesigning are Richmond/West Contra after local control was returned by a series of outside state ad- schools and overhauling central Costa, Coachella Valley Unified, following its 2001 state takeover. ministrators appointed by State office services than on stabilizing Compton Unified, Emery Uni- He and his wife are parents of Superintendent Jack O’Connell: the district’s finances.” (“Oak- fied, West Fresno Elementary, Oakland public elementary Randolph Ward, Kimberly land school district: Is it better Vallejo City Unified, and most Dr. Tony Smith, Oakland Unified school children. Statham, and Vincent Matthews. off after the state takeover?” recently King City Joint Union School District’s new permanent Over two years ago, Assem- Each was a graduate of the Broad Oakland Tribune, 7/4/09) High School District in Monterey superintendent. bly Member Sandré Swanson Superintendents Academy, a When state control ended, continued on page 3 Oakland Schools Redwood Heights Neighborhood News O C C B Y D ENISE D AVILA A R T S O L K Want Volunteers Welcome, Principal Stone IC N partners operate in specific It was a pleasure to sit down with B Y C AROLYN B URD schools, Risha Riley of the Sara Stone, the new principal at Redwood Heights Elementary akland Schools have Oakland School District’s School. Highly dedicated to the had a lot of success Volunteer Office will be on community and public education, working with school hand to represent volunteer O Ms. Stone and her husband Tom volunteers. They want more! opportunities in all of the city Metro readers interested schools. The MacArthur Metro are both Oakland natives. Ms. in becoming school volun- featured one of the nonprofits Stone began her career as an teers are invited to attend the that will be at the Volunteer elementary school teacher. After Volunteer Faire for Oakland Faire in a recent article— playing a major role in securing Schools on Saturday, Septem- the Writer Coach Connection a grant from the Annenberg ber 12, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at and their Associate Director, Foundation to support reform Oakland Main Library West Lynn Mueller. They work initiatives, she soon transitioned Auditorium. Superintendent at The Media Academy at out of the classroom into a of Schools Tony Smith will Fremont Federated High communitywide school leader- open the Faire at 11 a.m. Schools on Foothill Blvd (see ship position, which began Sara Stone, the new principal at Redwood Heights Elementary School, The Volunteer Faire is www.macarthurmetro.org/ helping other schools with with husband Tom and children Ezra (left) and Jamon (right). a partnering of the Oakland 200808/news/3529). reform projects, too. School District’s Volunteer The Excel Reading Clinic, While her work with different After her work with RISE, Ms. of R.H. feels like “a natural Office and 12 school-based a nonprofit that will be par- schools was rewarding, Ms. Stone left Oakland for Boston, progression from RISE and nonprofits. The community ticipating in the Volunteer Stone longed to personally lead where Tom was offered a “dream Manning,” and adds that she will finally have a central Faire, works with Laurel El- a project at one site from begin- job” in his career as a video game admires the work started at the place to learn about a wide ementary School students. By ning to end. Thus, she enrolled animator. In Boston, she took up school and shares a parallel vision variety of programs. Repre- the end of the school year, Ex- in graduate school to earn her the role of principal at Joseph P. of education. Ms. Stone’s vision sentatives from all the pro- cel students often jump two administrative credential from Manning Elementary School in of education is not only focused grams will be at tables in grade levels. Last year eight California State University East the Jamaica Plain section of the on supporting the whole child, the West Auditorium ready Laurel volunteers worked Bay. She subsequently helped to city. Missing their roots, however, but also on engaging the whole to speak with potential one hour a week with their launch RISE Community School the Stones returned to Oakland to family and community in learn- volunteers, describe their students on remedial reading. on the former campus of High- raise their two sons, Jamon (7 ing, particularly through the programs, and answer Oakland needs more land Elementary in the Elmhurst years) and Ezra (17 months). school’s integrated fine arts and questions. Current volun- school volunteers. At the Vol- neighborhood of Oakland, and “I am very fortunate to be at ecology programs. In fact, the teers will also be there to unteer Faire, attendees will became its first principal. She also Redwood Heights [R.H.],” Ms. ecology program will have a spe- talk with new volunteers. find lots of great programs, assisted with the leadership of Stone says of her return to Oak- cial focus on the school’s garden. While the nonprofit continued on page 4 New Highland Academy, which land Unified School District. She Ms. Stone also admires the shares the same school campus. says her new role as principal continued on page 4 Your support helps keep the Metro alive! Become one of the Thousand Friends. Your name could be here. Become a friend—see page 2. 2 September 2009 Dimond Neighborhood News The Altenheim 100th HOT NUMBERS PUBLIC AGENCIES ABAT—the Alcoholic 777-8670 BY KATHLEEN RUSSELL,KEN GIBSON, nearby public parking lots. Anniversary Celebration Beverage Action Team AND DANIEL SWAFFORD • The Dimond businesses, Graffiti hotline 238-4703 the branch library, and this post B Y G ORDON L AVERTY Schaller; Citizens’ Housing Abandoned cars 238-6030 office form the thriving center President, Jim Buckley; and Ex- Save Our Post Office O.P.D. Non-emergency 777-3333 for one of the most diverse parts he Dimond District was celsior German Center President, Over the last few weeks residents Animal control 535-5602 of Oakland. originally established by Michael Willis. Also in atten- of the Dimond District and other • With 28,880 residents German Americans who dance were a member of the Beat Health (drugs) 777-8630 Oakland neighborhoods served T counted in zip code 94602 in settled here with their homes, Fleishhacker family, the present Crime Stoppers 238-6946 by the Dimond Branch Post Of- the 2000 census, this post office their farms, and their beer gar- Board of Directors and members Drug Hotline 238-DRUG fice learned that “our Dimond serves a larger population than dens. The high point of this de- of The Excelsior German Center, Public Works 615-5566 Post Office” might be closed. the national average of fewer velopment was the construction former directors and employees The United States Postal Truancy Tip Line 879-8172 than 10,000 people for each of The Altenheim, the big white of The Altenheim, and many of Service (USPS) has begun a Noise Hotline: 238-6777 USPS retail facility.