Teachers and school staff in Oakland survived the budget ax for now after the Oakland Unified School District Board on Tuesday night voted down proposed layoffs and school mergers for the 2023-24 school year.
Trustees rejected two proposals, one calling for reduction of staff at school sites and another calling for the merger of 10 campuses, both for the 2023-24 school year.
School board Director Mike Hutchinson, who voted in favor of the budget proposals, argued the cuts are necessary because of declining enrollment. The district has about 2,000 fewer students since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, less money is coming in as COVID supplemental funding is