As someone who has become deeply involved in conversations with several of you, and a parent who sees a great need for change in this district, I want to say to you, and the community at large, something that will sound crazy: This is progress.

The harm that has been done to this district and community stretches back at least two decades. These layoffs are heartbreaking to many of us, but they are progress because they start the real, difficult process of undoing that harm, and this process will take years.

What comes next isn't known, and our PSAC report makes clear that the district's messaging strategy has been opaque, confusing, and has harmed our trust in you. Nonetheless, one fact remains clear: we must maintain local control, and oversight of our budget, to give the district a chance to create a true process for engagement. That engagement must happen over reasonable time periods, with the goal of building this district into a community-based example others should follow.

To our community, I need to say this: we are in a public school district. The people up on that stage are there because our community voted them there. To end this cycle of harm, we need to trust that the people of Oakland know what's best for our kids. The people of Oakland>, not the people of Alameda County or the State of California. This is a mess that we share with them, and it'll only get cleaned up properly by us.

For you all on the board: you know what's at stake. A rejection of these cuts is an acceptance that you aren't up to the task. For many years, this district and board has been pilloried for putting off hard decisions. Well, these are the hard decisions they were talking about. Let's end the cycle and change the narrative.

Thank you.