OUSD Library Staff and Library Allies are fighting to keep Oakland school libraries funded in alignment with the District’s Mission to eliminate inequity.
Please sign this petition to ensure that our most vulnerable Oakland students continue to have access to quality school libraries. Then, please come to this meeting to discuss funding our school libraries.
Attend the Measure G Oversight meeting
When: Mon May 20, 2019 6pm – 8pm
Where: KDOL TV Studio, B-237,
Met West High School Entrance,
314 East 10th Street,
Oakland, CA 94606-2291 (map)
Your support is critical because we are deeply concerned that the new proposal for distributing Measure G library funds will completely roll back the improvements and gains made since 2016.
Many OUSD libraries rely on funding from Measure G, passed by voters in 2008. Since 2016, $1.6 million of Measure G funds have been more equitably allocated to improve quality and access. Now the district wants to return to their old, failed strategy of thinly spreading out Measure G funds. Each school will receive a flat $30,000, regardless of need or impact on student access to libraries.
Unfortunately, adopting a flat-rate per site funding model will not give the sites more. It will give everyone less by destabilizing the library system across the district.
A donation of just $10 help us put this petition in front of 1,000 Oakland Residents!
Let’s take a stand for quality, as we continue to work towards a goal of 100% of our school sites having high-quality library programs.
Over the past 2 years equitable, targeted distribution of Measure G funds has been a success! OUSD now has more high quality libraries run by professional library staff, which brings us closer in alignment to California State Standards and Ed Code.
The impact of the funding model slated for 2019-20 would be especially harmful because our most vulnerable students stand to lose the most. There is significant research to show that “the benefits associated with good library programs are strongest for the most vulnerable and at-risk learners, including students of color, low income students, and students with disabilities.” Libraries in flatland neighborhoods are the most likely to face closures or drastic cutbacks. Schools that cannot draw on community resources such as PTA fundraising will not be able to supplement their reduced Measure G allocation.
We believe it is critical to keep Measure G library funding under the purview of the person who has the best grasp of the big picture of equity and growth for our school libraries - the District Library Manager.