Support our Schools

By Libby Schaaf

In my 20s, I left practicing law to build a centralized volunteer program for Oakland public schools, and I've helped start some of Oakland's most successful public schools. I will focus on combating truancy and strengthening city-school partnerships.

It's difficult to convey the passion I have for children and schools, and amount of investment I have put into Oakland's students - long before I had my own two children. I've worked tirelessly to mentor, tutor, raise money, and solve problems at our schools. I gave up my career as an attorney to create and lead a public schools volunteer program. I have one youth that have mentored every since he was 9 years old + now he's 23 and I still mentor him.

District 4 has thriving public schools - which I myself attended years ago - and a community that solidly supports them. As your representative in City Hall, I will continue to pour my energy into supporting our students through advocacy, legislation and heavy-duty problem solving.

I would never say "call your school board member" when approached about a school-related issue. I don't believe in the silos between schools and City Hall. I will mandate my staff to work on issues related to our schools. I will work closely with the District 4 school board member so children don't fall between the gaps in our bureaucracies.

I will reach out to OUSD and within City Council to break down the walls between our libraries, parks and school sites + all our City and School facilities should be available to our children when they need them.

I will push for the City and OUSD to collaborate on operations + I see ample opportunities around facilities maintenance, equipment-sharing, sharing technology and infrastructure. Oakland has the advantage of having a City and School District with shared boundaries; I want to break down institutional boundaries.

I will put my relationships to use for our kids + the benefit of having worked in public service in Oakland for my whole life is that I have partners in hundreds of agencies and organizations + from transit agencies to art programs to State government.

Truancy is a key area where City and schools overlap. I'll work for creative and smart solutions to this pressing issue. I will use the City's many eyes+on-the-streets to be more vigilant in combating this problem.

I will be a passionate advocate at every level of government for policies, programs and funding for our students. Especially in this time of budget crises, Oakland's leaders can and should a much better job of advocating for our children at the school level and at the District and Sate level.

I will continue to support the vision and leadership of Superintendent Tony Smith and the strategic vision Thriving Students that the OUSD Board unanimously adopted this year.

I will support making Oakland a great place to be a teacher, volunteer, tutor, mentor. Let's make Oakland a City where all children THRIVE.