The Oakland Unified school board could be considering whether to push out the district’s superintendent of nearly 10 years, according to a board member. The move could create instability and widespread consequences as the district struggles to repair a $95 million budget deficit and grapples with the possibility of school closures.
Two weeks ago during a closed session meeting, the board discussed terminating Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell’s contract two years early, board member Mike Hutchinson said. He said the board is slated to discuss ending her contract early in closed session at Wednesday night’s board meeting – a move he said could cause senior-level district staff to depart.
“If we lose our superintendent and chief business officer at the end of June, with no replacements and no plan, Oakland Unified School District is doomed,” Hutchinson said in a Facebook post. “We can’t let the school board leadership undo the progress we’ve made, and I won’t let anyone push OUSD over the cliff.”
The debate comes as Oakland Unified faces a $95 million budget shortfall and the Alameda County Superintendent of Schools has expressed deep concerns about the district’s finances. The district is projected to run out of cash as early as the next school year, which could lead to another state takeover like the district had in 2003
The district was considering merging 10 schools to save costs, but no action has been taken. And in February, the district voted to cut nearly 100 district positions.
The potential move to push out Johnson-Trammell – the district’s longest-serving superintendent in more than 50 years – comes less than a year after the board approved a final three-year contract extension through 2027. That contract included one final year leading the district’s day-to-day operations and two years to transfer her responsibilities and prepare the district for her successor.
The NAACP Oakland branch criticized the potential early removal of Johnson-Trammell in an open letter Tuesday and warned that the move could have severe consequences.
“This move, if allowed to proceed, will disproportionately impact the very students who already face systemic barriers – our black and brown children, English language learners and students with special needs,” the organization said.
The group called on the board to halt any discussions of Johnson-Trammell’s termination and encouraged community members to come out to Wednesday’s board meeting and speak in support of the superintendent.
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There is no mention of the discussion to terminate Johnson-Trammell’s contract on the board agenda for Wednesday night – common with personnel matters and closed session items – but a public employee “discipline/dismissal/release” matter is included in the closed session agenda.
Johnson-Trammell did not immediately respond to a request for comment from this news organization. The district’s communication’s director, John Sasaki, said there is currently “no public discussion” underway about Johnson-Trammell’s contract and directed all questions to board president, Jennifer Brouhard. She did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The board meets at LaEscuelita Education Center at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
