I just heard on the news that Oakland voted to close 5 schools today.
Oakland can't afford to keep open good schools, but it can afford tear gas and police overtime.
I am so upset. All of these schools have a large black student population. Just saying. Lakeview is just down the street from me, and I know damn well it is a decent school with a community that loves the school.
Personally, my daughter takes her high school classes in the community college system. The Oakland campus (Laney) cut 100 classes in the upcoming Spring semester. They already cut Winter Intersession last year. They are not just cutting excess classes, they are cutting essential classes. 100 Classes is about 25% of their total class load. Even worse, every other campus in the local Community College system is cutting between 20 and 25% of its classes. I'm just praying she gets into a rich Private University because it is obvious that we will not be able to afford Berkeley, our local university.
Thank goodness California has money for tear gas.
Update: SFGate has the story now. This wouldn't have been necessary with good planning and funding. Schools move and change and close, but they need to do so with planning and care for the lives they touch.