Oakland Unified School District  
Board of Education  
1011 Union Street, #940  
Oakland, CA 94607-2236  
(510) 879-1940  
510 627-9440 eFax  
711 TTY/TDD  
boe@ousd.org E-Mail  
ACCESSIBILITY OF AGENDA AND AGENDA MATERIALS  
Agenda and agenda materials are accessible at http://www.ousd.org or from any computer terminal in the Offices of  
the Board of Education and Superintendent, 1000 Broadway, Suite 300, Oakland, CA 94607-4099  
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT COMPLIANCE AND LANGUAGE SERVICES  
Individuals requiring interpretation or translation services or a reasonable accommodation to participate in meetings  
should notify the Office of the Board of Education seventy-two (72) hours prior to the meeting at either  
(510)879-8199(VM); or boe@ousd.org (E-Mail); or  
(510) 879-2300 (eTTY/TDD); or (510) 879-2299 (eFax).  
Meeting Minutes Long - Final  
Monday, January 5, 2026  
11:00 AM  
Annual Organizational Meeting  
4728 Edgewood Avenue, Oakland, CA 94602 and  
Committee Room, KDOL TV Studio, B-237, Met West High School Entrance, 314  
East 10th Street, Oakland, CA 94606-2291, Internet - Zoom & Granicus;  
Broadcasted - KDOL-TV (Comcast Channel 27 and AT&T Channel 99)  
Board of Education  
President Jennifer Brouhard  
Vice President Valarie Bachelor  
Directors: Rachel Latta, VanCedric Williams, Mike Hutchinson, Patrice Berry, Clifford  
Thompson  
Student Directors: Maximus Simmons, Marianna Smith  
Staff: Denise Gail Saddler, Ed.D., Interim Superintendent & Secretary  
ON-LINE SPEAKER CARD REGISTRATION  
Public Comment, at the meeting, will be taken individually on Agenda Items  
indicated by microphone icon.  
You may register to speak in advance on the Agenda Item whether attending  
the meeting by teleconference, e.g., Zoom, or in person.  
On line Speaker Card Registration (Sign In To Speak) opens at minimum 72  
hours in advance for a Regular Meeting or at minimum 24 hours in advance  
for a Special Meeting. Use the eComment Link to Sign In (Register) to Speak  
up to one hour before the beginning of the meeting. Manual (Paper) Speaker  
Cards also will be available at the meeting for completion.  
Sign In to Speak, on an eligible Agenda Item, as a matter of equity, is first  
registered, first called, in order of  
Registration whether participation is in person or virtually, e.g. Zoom, or by  
audio, e.g., telephone.  
For advanced pre-meeting Registration, You must establish a one time  
OUSD eComment - Sign In (Register) To Speak Account providing your First  
Name and Last Name and your email address. Your First Name and Last  
Name, as Registered, must also show as the Participant or Profile Name on  
a teleconference system (i.e., Zoom, webex, other). You will be requested to  
Register the first time you use eComment - Sign In To Speak.  
The Sign In To Speak System, after the one time registration, will remember  
you by first name and last name  
associated with your email address (profile), making it easier for you to  
electronically Register or Sign In to Speak on an Agenda Item at a future  
OUSD legislative meeting, e.g., Board, committee, commission.  
Early pre-meeting Sign In To Speak (Registration) is urged for all - whether  
you plan to attend meeting in person or view meeting via teleconference or  
listen to the meeting by telephone. Names will be called in Sign In To Speak  
order received.  
NOTICE - MEDIA/MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY ATTEND  
AND PARTICIPATE IN-PERSON OR VIRTUALLY  
Members of the media and the public may attend and participate in the Board  
meeting in-person in the Committee Room, KDOL TV Studio, B-237, Met  
West High School Entrance, 314 East 10th Street, Oakland, CA 94606-2291,  
Internet - Zoom & Granicus; Broadcasted - KDOL-TV (Comcast Channel 27  
and AT&T Channel 99) or other noticed location or virtually as described  
herein.  
The following information is for those members of the media and public  
interested in viewing or listening to the Board meeting virtually.  
•
Zoom: To view by Zoom, please click  
https://ousd.zoom.us/j/87660104947 on or after the Noticed meeting time.  
Instructions on how to join a meeting by video conference are available at:  
https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193-Joining-a-Meeting.  
•
Phone: To listen by phone (via Zoom), please do the following at or after  
the Noticed meeting time: call (669) 900-9128, then enter Webinar ID 876  
6010 4947, then press “#”. If asked for a participant id or code, press #.  
Instructions on how to join a meeting by phone are available at:  
https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362663  
-Joining-a-meeting-by-phone.  
•
To view the Board meeting from the District’s Home Page - Upcoming  
Events & Live Meeting Video, please select the meeting name and click on  
the “In Progress” link under Video or go to the Legislative Information Center  
(under Board of Education on Home Page)>Calendar  
Tab>Calendar>Today>Board of Education>”In Progress” link under Video.  
Public comment in-person is permitted within the times allotted for public  
comment on the Agenda. Virtual comment will also be permitted within the  
times allotted for public comment on the Agenda in the following two ways:  
NOTICE - MEDIA/MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY ATTEND  
AND PARTICIPATE IN-PERSON OR VIRTUALLY (CONTINUED)  
•
To comment virtually by Zoom, if you have made a pre-meeting Request  
to Speak, when your name is called, click the “Raise Your Hand” button. You  
will be unmuted and allowed to make public comment. After the allotted  
time,you will then be re-muted. Instructions on how to “Raise Your Hand” is  
available at:: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/205566129  
-RaiseHand-In-Webinar.  
•
To comment by phone (via Zoom), if you have made a pre-meeting  
Request to Speak, when your name is called, press “*9” to “Raise Your  
Hand." You will be unmuted and allowed to make public comment. You will  
then be remuted.Instructions of how to raise your hand by phone are  
available at: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362663-Joinin  
g-a-meeting-by-phone.  
In addition, members of the public may submit written comments for a  
posted Board of Education Meeting Agenda Item, before a meeting or while a  
meeting is “In Progress,” from the District’s Home Page - Upcoming Events &  
Live Meeting Video by selecting Board of Education Agenda “eComment” or  
from the Legislative Information Center, as follows:  
•
If before Sunday, click Calendar Tab>Next Week>Board of  
Education>eComment  
If Sunday or thereafter up thru day before Meeting, click Calendar  
Tab>This Week>Board of Education>eComment  
If day of Meeting, click Calendar Tab>Today>Board of  
•
•
Education>eComment  
Or “eComment” in bold on the cover page of the Agenda.  
Written comments made on an eligible Agenda item, upon clicking of the  
Submit Button, are immediately sent via email to all members of the  
legislative body and key staff supporting the legislative body. Each  
eComment is a Public Record.  
BOARD OF EDUCATION PROTOCOLS  
The purpose of these protocols is to provide a basic set of professional  
standards by which the Board and the Superintendent are to function as a  
team. There is no intention to abridge the rights and obligations of Board  
Members to oversee the operation of the organization, nor to interfere with the  
Superintendent with her role as the Superintendent of OUSD.  
General  
1. Every action by a Board Member should be directed toward improving the  
educational program for students.  
2. Every Board Member will exhibit behavior that is honorable, honest, and  
dedicated to the success of the students and staff of the district.  
3. Each Board Member is to be treated with dignity and respect.  
4. Board Member Commitment will include:  
− Participate fully in the discussion of issues  
− Listen respectfully to all views and opinions  
− Respect each individual’s opinion  
− Accept the majority action of the Board  
Board Members  
5. An individual Board Member will not use the media as a personal forum,  
unless it is clearly indicated that the opinion is personal and not  
representative of the Board majority position.  
6. Each Board Member will make every effort to attend all Board meetings in  
person; and to start and end on time.  
7. Board Members will ensure opportunities for each to comment.  
Superintendent  
8. Staff is the responsibility of the Superintendent who will bring  
recommendations to the Board for action.  
9. Questions regarding Board agenda items are to be communicated to the  
Superintendent prior to the Board meeting and the Superintendent will  
respond in a timely manner.  
10. The Superintendent is to communicate all significant administrative  
actions to the Board.  
11. Legal and personnel matters will be confidential.  
MEETING RULES OF ENGAGEMENT  
* Up to Three (3) minute speaking limit for Board Members  
* No mingling with the audience  
* Address comments to other Board Members  
* Focus on agenda items  
* Don't repeat what's been said  
* Always be respectful  
* No interruptions  
* Enforce norms  
* Model desired behavior  
MEETING PROCEDURES  
All Board meetings shall begin on time and shall be guided by an Agenda  
prepared in accordance with Board bylaws and posted and distributed in  
accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act (open meeting requirements) and  
other applicable laws.  
(cf. 9322 - Agenda/Meeting Materials)  
The President shall conduct Board meetings in accordance with law, Board  
Bylaws, and its parliamentary authority which shall enable the Board to  
efficiently consider issues and carry out the will of the majority.  
(cf. 9121 - President)  
The Board believes that late night meetings deter public participation, can  
affect the Board's decision-making ability, and can be a burden to staff.  
Regular Board meetings shall be adjourned not later than 11:00 p.m. unless  
the Board agrees to extend the meeting, which may only be done once by 45  
minutes.  
(cf. 9320 - Meetings and Notices)  
A. Call To Order  
B. Roll Call  
President Jennifer Brouhard called the 2026 Annual Organizational Meeting to  
Order at 11:09 A.M.  
Director Mike Hutchinson is participating remotely as Noticed pursuant to  
Brown Act requirements.  
Present  
7 - Director Rachel Latta  
Director VanCedric Williams  
Director Mike Hutchinson  
Director Patrice Berry  
Director Clifford Thompson  
Vice President Valarie Bachelor  
President Jennifer Brouhard  
Absent  
2 - Student Director Maximus Simmons  
Student Director Marianna Smith  
C. Public Comment on All of Today's Agenda Items and Any  
Non-Agenda Items Within the Subject Matter Jurisdiction of the  
Governing Board - 15 Minutes  
The items are listed pursuant to law.  
26-0001  
Public Comment on All of Today's Agenda Items and Any  
Non-Agenda Items Within the Subject Matter Jurisdiction of the  
District - 15 Minutes  
Public Comment on All of Today's Agenda Items and Any  
Non-Agenda Items Within the Subject Matter Jurisdiction of the  
District - January 5, 2026.  
Speaker  
Assata Olugbala  
D. Nomination(s) for President, Governing Board - 2026 Term  
Any Regular member of the Governing Board is eligible for nomination to an  
elected officer position. A member may self-nominate, no second required.  
RONR (12th ed.) 46:6.  
Nominee(s) may have up to 2 Minutes to make nomination acceptance  
speech.  
Director VanCedric Williams nominated President Jennifer Brouhard for  
President for the 2026 term. Director Patrice Berry nominated Director Mike  
Hutchinson for President for the 2026 Term. No second required. Both  
nominees were invited and gave brief remarks, two minutes or less, in  
support of their respective candidacy for President.  
E. Election, President, Governing Board - 2026 Term  
Parliamentarian Edgar Rakestraw, Jr., given there are two candidates for  
President, asked voting members, upon Roll Call, to please state the name  
of the candidate for whom he/she is voting; that statement of the name would  
be deemed an "Aye" vote for the candidate.  
The Roll Call results for each candidate is as stated below in Legislative File  
26-0002 and 26-0002A:  
26-0002  
Election of the President, Governing Board - 2026 Term  
Shall Jennifer Brouhard* be elected President, Governing Board  
of the Oakland Unified School District for the 2026 Term?  
___  
* If there is more than one nominee for the Office, upon Roll Call,  
please state the name of the member for whom you are voting.  
Stating of the name of a member, under this circumstance, is an  
“Aye’ vote. Four “Ayes” required to elect to the Office.  
President Jennifer Brouhard having received four "Aye" votes is elected  
President of the Board for the 2026 Term.  
Upon the Roll Call, President Brouhard, having received four "Ayes",  
is elected President, Board for the 2026 Term.  
Ayes:  
4 - Rachel Latta  
VanCedric Williams  
Valarie Bachelor  
Jennifer Brouhard  
2 - Maximus Simmons  
Marianna Smith  
Absent:  
Non-voting:  
3 - Mike Hutchinson  
Patrice Berry  
Clifford Thompson  
Enactment No: 26-0001  
26-0002A  
Election of the President, Governing Board - 2026 Term  
Shall Mike Hutchinson be elected President, Governing Board of  
the Oakland Unified School District for the 2026 Term?  
___  
* If there is more than one nominee for the Office, upon Roll Call,  
please state the name of the member for whom you are voting.  
Stating of the name of a member, under this circumstance, is an  
“Aye’ vote. Four “Ayes” required to elect to the Office.  
Director Mike Hutchinson having received three "Aye" votes is not elected  
President of the Board for the 2026 Term.  
Upon the Roll Call, Director Hutchinson, having received three "Ayes",  
is not elected President,.Board for the 2026 Term.  
3 - Mike Hutchinson  
Ayes:  
Patrice Berry  
Clifford Thompson  
2 - Maximus Simmons  
Marianna Smith  
Absent:  
Non-voting:  
4 - Rachel Latta  
VanCedric Williams  
Valarie Bachelor  
Jennifer Brouhard  
Enactment No: N/A  
F.  
Nomination(s) for Vice President, Governing Board - 2026 Term  
Any Regular member of the Governing Board is eligible for nomination to an  
elected officer position. A  
member may self-nominate, no second required. RONR (12th ed.) 46:6.  
Nominee(s) may have up to 2 Minutes to make nomination acceptance  
speech.  
President Jennifer Brouhard nominated Vice President Valarie Bachelor for  
Vice President, Board for the 2026 term. No second required. No other  
nominations made. The Nominee was invited and gave brief remarks, two  
minutes or less, in support of her candidacy for Vice President.  
G. Election, Vice President, Governing Board - 2026 Term  
Parliamentarian Rakestraw, given there is one candidate for Vice President,  
asked voting members, upon Roll Call, to please state "Aye" or "Yes" or  
"Nay" or "No" [or other] for the candidate. The Roll Call results for the  
candidate is as stated below:  
26-0003  
Election of the Vice President, Governing Board - 2026 Term  
Shall (Nominee)* be elected Vice President, Governing Board of  
the Oakland Unified School District for the 2026 Term?  
___  
* If there is more than one nominee for the Office, upon Roll Call,  
please state the name of the member for whom you are voting.  
Stating of the name of a member, under this circumstance, is an  
“Aye’ vote. Four “Ayes” required to elect to the Office.  
Vice President Valarie Bachelor having received five "Aye" votes is elected  
Vice President of the Board for the 2026 Term.  
Upon the Roll Call, Vice President Valarie Bachelor, having received  
five "Ayes", is elected Vice President, Board for the 2026 Term.  
Ayes:  
5 - Rachel Latta  
VanCedric Williams  
Patrice Berry  
Valarie Bachelor  
Jennifer Brouhard  
2 - Mike Hutchinson  
Clifford Thompson  
Nays:  
Absent:  
2 - Maximus Simmons  
Marianna Smith  
Enactment No: 26-0002  
H. President's Address - 5 Minutes  
President Brouhard's Address:  
Good morning, Board Directors, Student Board Directors, Superintendent,  
staff, families, and community members.  
I am really honored to accept the position of President of the Oakland Unified  
School District Board of Education.  
Thank you to my fellow board directors for placing your trust in me during this  
pivotal moment for our district. We carry an immense responsibility: the  
decisions we make now will shape OUSD for many years to come. At the  
center of every decision must be our students and our shared commitment to  
ensuring that every child in Oakland receives a high-quality education.  
This commitment means prioritizing student achievement, fostering working  
conditions that allow our talented staff to thrive, and ensuring safe and  
welcoming school as the foundation for learning. It means providing schools  
with the resources they need and centering equity, quality, and opportunity in  
all of our work. It also means focusing intentionally on students with the  
greatest needs—disabilities, newcomers and English learners, unhoused and  
foster youth, and African American students.  
This past year has been one of deep and necessary change. Deep change is  
hard, and it is often messy. Mistakes were made, lessons learned, and we  
have begun to make changes that we have needed to make for a long time. I  
stand firmly behind Superintendent Saddler and her leadership team. While  
there may be differences along the way, what has defined this work is open  
and direct communication, along with a shared willingness—between the  
superintendent, the board, and district leadership—to listen, learn, and  
consider new and creative solutions. We cannot be afraid of change, and we  
cannot be afraid of making mistakes. What matters is that we acknowledge  
them, learn from them, and communicate openly and honestly with our staff,  
families, students, and community.  
The years ahead will be both challenging and exciting as we continue to  
restructure and strengthen OUSD. Last year, we achieved something that  
took more than 20 years to achieve: we exited state receivership and  
regained local control of our budget. For many staff, students, and families,  
receivership was all they ever knew. To those who lived through it—and to  
those who are new to OUSD—I am committed to working with the board,  
superintendent, labor partners, students, and community to ensure that no  
one ever again knows what education in Oakland looks like under state  
receivership.  
In the coming months, we will face difficult budget decisions to ensure  
long-time financial stability while protecting the staff who work most closely  
with our students and families. At parent engagements across the district, I  
consistently heard how critical site staff are—from nutrition services workers  
and custodians, to office staff, librarians, teachers, counselors, and school  
leaders. We also know how essential our buildings and grounds teams are to  
maintaining safe and functional schools. I want to recognize the buildings  
and grounds staff who worked overnight to repair the bathroom following the  
tragic shooting at Skyline.  
We also face labor challenges in the year ahead. While we reached a historic  
agreement with our teachers, we know that historic moments are temporary.  
As surrounding districts increase wages, OUSD must continue  
working—within our financial constraints—to remain competitive. We also  
have sunshine reopeners with UAOS and Building Trades. These  
conversations will not be easy, but through collaboration and open  
communication, we can work toward agreements that support our staff and,  
ultimately, our students. Our students deserve the best educators and school  
staff possible.  
The current board, including our student board directors, brings deep  
experience and strong relationships with school sites, labor partners, and the  
community. That collective leadership will be essential as we take on major  
decisions ahead, including asset management and facilities planning.  
Through the Facilities Committee, we will explore opportunities for career  
training, housing for transitional-age youth, workforce housing, and  
responsible revenue-generating uses of district property. Early this year, the  
board will vote on an ambitious facilities management plan, and this summer  
we will begin demolition of the long-vacant 1025 Second Avenue  
building—removing a longstanding safety hazard and clearing the way for  
future development.  
Through the Teaching and Learning Committee, the board will continue  
working with educators and district leaders to ensure all students are reading  
at grade level by third grade. We will also focus on middle and high school  
outcomes so that students graduate reading proficiently, prepared for college,  
careers, and full participation in their communities.  
This work cannot be done in isolation. We must move forward  
collectively—as a board—and in close collaboration with district leadership,  
labor partners, site staff, students, and families. Transparency will be  
essential as we make budget decisions and engage in the redesign and  
re-envisioning of our district. We must collaborate with families and  
community partners.  
I am humbled to accept the presidency and energized by the opportunities  
ahead. With unity, honesty, and an unwavering commitment to our students  
and staff, we will meet these challenges head-on and build a strong and  
stable future for Oakland’s schools and community.  
Thank you.  
I.  
Vice President's Address - 2 Minutes  
Vice President Bachelor's Address:  
Colleagues and community. I am deeply honored by your trust and grateful for  
the opportunity to serve as vice president of the Oakland Unified School  
Board.  
I believe we are all here because we care deeply about public education, our  
students, our staff and our community. That shared commitment  
matters—especially in moments when the work feels difficult or when we do  
not agree on the path forward.  
As vice president, I will work to foster collaboration, transparency, and  
trust—both among us as board members and with the communities we  
serve. I will do my best to create space for honest dialogue, thoughtful  
disagreement, and shared problem-solving, always grounded in what is best  
for students.  
Thank you.  
J.  
New Business  
26-0004  
2026 Annual Organizational Meeting - Governing Board -  
Compliance With Legal Requirements and Other Items of Business  
Necessity Including Governing Board Member Compensation  
Adoption by the Governing Board of Resolution No. 2526-0190 -  
Adopting, Consolidating, Complying With Annual Organizational Meeting  
Requirements and Other Items of Business Necessity, Including Governing  
Board Member Compensation, Pursuant to Chaptered Assembly Bill  
1390 (Effective January 1, 2026).  
26-0004 2026 Annual Organizational Meeting - Governing  
Board - Compliance With Legal Requirements and Other  
Items of Business Necessity Including Governing Board  
Member Compensation  
Attachments:  
Public Speaker  
Assata Olugbala  
Prior to the Vote on the Resolution - Attachment C - President's  
Appointments for 2026 Term, President Brouhard nominated Director  
Williams to Chair, Teaching and Learning Committee and Director Mike  
Hutchinson to Chair, Charter Matters Committee with membership nominees  
remaining the same. The Board ratified the President's Appointments for  
2026 Term.  
A motion was made by Vice President Bachelor, seconded by Director  
Thompson, that Resolution No. 2526-0190 be Adopted. The motion  
carried by the following vote:  
Ayes:  
7 - Rachel Latta  
VanCedric Williams  
Mike Hutchinson  
Patrice Berry  
Clifford Thompson  
Valarie Bachelor  
Jennifer Brouhard  
2 - Maximus Simmons  
Marianna Smith  
Absent:  
Enactment No: 26-0003  
K. Adjournment  
President Brouhard adjourned the Annual Organizational Meeting at 11:43  
A.M.  
Prepared By:  
Approved By: