Victory On Local Control!

[Peter Farruggio <pfarr@cal.berkeley.edu>]

> From: "Education Not Incarceration" <ednotinc@riseup.net>
>
>
> VICTORY on Partial Local Control!
>
> Yesterday, California State Superintendent for Public Instruction Jack
> O?'Connell reversed his position, bowed to your pressure and returned
> control of community relations and governance to Oakland schools. This is
> a partial victory that means that one (community relations and governance)
> out of the five areas that the state controls will be returned. This is a
> great success that shows that our pressure has been working. At the
> introductory hearings about Local Control Bill AB 45, O'Connell's office
> was the only major voice in opposition to the return of local control.
> Yesterday, he reversed his position completely and said "substantial and
> sustainable progress has been made" in Oakland. Reading between the lines,
> it seems clear that our protests, education, pressure and the success of
> AB 45 in the assembly forced him to change. To everyone who came to speak
> at the June 1st public hearing, went to a protest, signed a petition, made
> a phone call, gave money, or talked to a friend about democracy for
> Oakland schools, thank you. You are the leaders who deserve credit for
> this victory. Take a moment to pat yourselves on the back.
>
> As Mayor Dellums stated at the press conference, "We should put forward
> every effort to return full local control."? We agree with the mayor and
> we also need to continue our work to stop school closures and fight prison
> expansion.
>
> Below, you will find links to news articles on the victory.
>
> Thank you for this hard won victory,
>
> Jonathan Stribling-Uss
> Education Not Incarceration
>
> *****************************
>
> Oakland School Board Regains Limited Authority
> Berkeley Daily Planet, By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor
> http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?issue=07-10-07&storyID=27476
>
> Monday, July 9, 2007 (SF Chronicle)
> Oakland regains voice over schools/State relinquishes some authority
> Jill Tucker, Chronicle Staff Writer
> The original article can be found on SFGate.com here:
> http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/07/09/BAG4IQTG1U5.DTL
>
> ****************************