Hello OSA Families!

It is time to celebrate the OSA community collective efforts so far this year!  We need you to join us on October 17th for our Annual Fund Kick-off Concert!  We will be sharing important details about the budget and our fundraising needs.  This is will be a great opportunity for you to give toward the Annual Fund. There is a Pre-Concert Soiree at the Uptown at 6:00 pm followed by a student Concert at Sweet’s Ballroom at 7:00 pm.  

Thank you all so much for the work that has been done on the Charter Renewal to date.  Our charter visit committee raved over how amazing students, parents, and teachers were in classes and in the focus groups.  Students were on their best behavior and clearly showed they understood the significance of the visit.  

As you have heard, we went to OUSD’s Board meeting to submit our charter application on Thursday 10/10.  I would like to extend a huge thank you to the OSA families and students who came to represent our school at the meeting.

While the experience was a bit challenging, I am pleased to share that even though we were not able to officially present our charter renewal application due to protests that resulted in the cancellation of public comment, we have a commitment from OUSD to provide us with a decision on the same date, (11/20), we would have had we submitted yesterday.  The OUSD Director of Charter Schools was very supportive of us throughout the entire process.

We will now submit our Charter Petition application with a phased-in lottery, on Wednesday, 10/23.

It contains the following proposal regarding auditions: 

• Starting in ’21-’22, 6th-grade students would be enrolled through a preference-based lottery.  All 7th – 12th-grade students would be enrolled via auditions into specific selected arts pathways.
• In ’22-’23 and ’23-’24, respectively, grades 7 and 8 would be enrolled by a preference-based lottery.  There would be auditions into specific selected arts pathways for all other incoming upper-grade students.
• The first year of a school-wide preference-based lottery for students would be in ’24-’25 and include foundational arts training in grades 6 and 7 during the school day. 
  • Students entering grades 8 through 12 will have an opportunity to build arts proficiency and select a specific arts pathway. 

Jerry Brown is aware of our proposed plan and supports our effort to maintain the OSA artistic excellence and serve the students of Oakland and the Bay Area.

There are LOTS of details to be fleshed out with Arts faculty and curriculum experts.  We are committed to supporting students and faculty to ensure OSA’s excellence in arts education, which includes assuring the school is accessible to as many students who are engaged in art as possible.

Here’s what I’ve been doing beyond working on the Charter Renewal documents:

• Elise Darwish, OSA Board chair, and I are working to extend the agreement for the Billboard contribution to offset part of our monthly rent expense for the Fox Theatre.  The proposal is for those funds to continue through 2026

• The City of Oakland has offered an extension of the rental agreement for the Fox lease at no increase through 2026, depending on our OSA getting it’s Charter renewed and securing the Billboard funding. 

• Making connections with the City of Oakland and local arts organizations to expand OSA’s relationships for future recruiting throughout the city

• Supporting Fundraising by providing working with the OSA Board Advancement Committee to ensure that the OSA message is created that is appropriate for various types of donors and fundraising relationships as well as establishing an Advancement Plan to reach our future needs for additional fundraising

• Meeting with OUSD Board Directors one-on-one.  I have confirmation to meet with one more Director and the Superintendent.

• Participating on a WASC visiting team for a 3-day visit

I have been so encouraged by the number of families that have been involved with the school and look forward to hearing from others who have yet to be able to join in.  We will be forming a School Site Council to get teacher, student and parent input on the LCAP so please consider participating in making schoolwide plans.

I will be creating opportunities to talk to families to have a chance to have an open dialogue with me regularly.  Please email me your ideas for times for me to offer an open forum similar to the “Directors Coffee” and is accessible to a wide range of students and families. 

We do not take lightly the efforts of the OSA community.  We know we cannot do this without your continued support. These are exciting times in the history of OSA.

In gratitude,

Staci A. Smith

ssmith@oakarts.org

Interim Executive Director

Oakland School for the Arts

Please read OSA Friday Principal Letter 10.11.19, from Mike Oz