Oakland may spare preschools at expense of adult education

By Katy Murphy
Oakland Tribune
Updated: 06/07/2010 09:41:30 PM PDT


OAKLAND — The Oakland school district will consider a proposal next week to salvage what it can of its preschool programs for low-income children — at the expense of immigrants, refugees, high school dropouts and others looking to better their lives through education.

At a special meeting Monday, the district administration will propose taking an additional $5 million from adult education programs. The Edward Shands Adult School would close as a result, as would the Neighborhood Centers on International Boulevard and the Bond Street Annex.

The $9.5 million total reduction for the next school year would wipe out adult English as a Second Language classes, citizenship preparation, and high school diploma and career technical education courses, said Brigitte Marshall, director of the district's adult education programs. The only offerings remaining after the 83 percent program cut would be school-based family literacy programs, high-school equivalency classes and credit recovery for current high school students through independent study.