Oakland teachers reach deal with district, averting strike

(KRON) — The Oakland Education Association (OEA) announced Wednesday that it had reached a deal with Oakland Unified School District, averting a one-day strike that had been authorized for Thursday. The agreement, according to teachers, restores budget cuts that are critical to retaining more than 120 experienced high school teachers in the district’s “most difficult-to-staff” schools.

Those schools, the OEA said, include Castlemont, Fremont, and McClymonds. The deal also restores site-based substitute teachers who provide daily classroom coverage and support at schools.

“This outcome reflects the power of educators standing together against cuts harmful to our goal of retaining experienced teachers in Oakland’s hardest-to-staff classrooms,” said OEA President Kampala Taiz-Rancifer. “We fought to protect consistency and stability for Oakland students supported by the dedicated teachers who serve them every day.”

A strike had previously been authorized for Thursday after the OEA said the district failed to fulfill its legal obligation to share basic information that educators had requested for over a year. The information, teachers said, was “needed to understand the impact of proposed cuts on school sites, staffing, and district resources.”

“Moving forward, we urge the district to include the Oakland Education Association as a true partner in shaping decisions that impact our schools, students, and their families,” added Taiz-Rancifer. “That means ensuring that we are working together on budget decisions that are transparent and responsible, and for leadership that values educators, families, and students as essential voices in creating a stable, thriving future for Oakland’s public schools.”