Oakland school board scrapes together a budget plan

"After five hours of haphazard discussion, the Oakland Unified School District board met its deadline for a budget plan with 22 minutes to spare. The superintendents of Alameda County and OUSD had imposed an Oct. 8 deadline for the board to give direction to district budget staff on how to address overspending this year - and solve projected deficits over the next two years."

"To resolve this year's budget gaps, the board has directed the superintendent to first implement a hiring freeze and review the district's current openings. If that isn't enough, they've told the superintendent and her staff to pursue other options, including freezing or canceling contracts, reducing travel, and consolidating purchases. It says that no scenarios should include school closures or mergers."

"In November, district staff will come back with options for the 2026-2027 budget that include restructuring the central office, reducing administrative positions, and cutting spending on contracts, as well as a plan to increase enrollment. The scenarios will total $100 million in adjustments. The resolution, introduced at the last meeting by Brouhard and Bachelor, the board's president and vice president, passed with amendments introduced last night by Latta, who represents District 1."

The Oakland Unified School District board met an Oct. 8 deadline after five hours of discussion, narrowly approving a composite budget resolution. The district faces current overspending and projected deficits over the next two years following its exit from state receivership after 22 years. The board approved directives to implement a hiring freeze and review current openings, and authorized pursuit of additional cuts such as freezing or canceling contracts, reducing travel, and consolidating purchases, explicitly excluding school closures or mergers. Staff will return in November with 2026-2027 scenarios totaling $100 million, including central office restructuring, administrative reductions, contract cuts, and enrollment-growth plans. The final vote split four in favor and three opposed.

Read at The Oaklandside