2024
January 31, 2024
I have heard the community's concerns about Joe Ramos and the questions about what the board will do in response to his conduct from our last board meeting.
While I cannot speak on behalf of the board, I can assure you that I will continue to urge the board, as I did at our meeting on June 14th (marker 4:41:35), and again at our meeting on January 24th (marker 3:16:00), to address this serious matter in a meaningful way.
While the board does not have the power to remove Mr. Ramos from his elected position (only the voters of Hayward can do that), I promise to urge the board to take actions that are within our legal rights.
Our next board meeting is February 14th. I am hopeful this topic will be an item on our agenda, and if you want to join me in urging the board to take action on this matter, please be sure to attend the meeting either in-person or by Zoom.
As always, I'm here if you have any additional questions. With gratitude for your continued support,
-April
I have heard the community's concerns about Joe Ramos and the questions about what the board will do in response to his conduct from our last board meeting.
While I cannot speak on behalf of the board, I can assure you that I will continue to urge the board, as I did at our meeting on June 14th (marker 4:41:35), and again at our meeting on January 24th (marker 3:16:00), to address this serious matter in a meaningful way.
While the board does not have the power to remove Mr. Ramos from his elected position (only the voters of Hayward can do that), I promise to urge the board to take actions that are within our legal rights.
Our next board meeting is February 14th. I am hopeful this topic will be an item on our agenda, and if you want to join me in urging the board to take action on this matter, please be sure to attend the meeting either in-person or by Zoom.
As always, I'm here if you have any additional questions. With gratitude for your continued support,
-April
2022
Dear HUSD Community,
Wanted to share some updates on how HUSD is doing in the equity work I’ve championed over the past few years.
Another area that will require further attention is how to be more inclusive for our LGBTQIA+ students and staff. We are still in the early stages of putting EQUITY into ACTION with still a lot of work before us. AND, we have made major headway in the push for student-centered education that truly centers equity while other districts are still trying to figure things out.
I am really proud of how far we’ve come in such a short period of time, especially since all this has happened while navigating the pandemic. And, I’m humbled by the difficult work that still stands before us, doing my best to equip myself with the courage it will take to continue on. But what renews my faith in my work time and time again is the thought of all of you, doing your part to stand up for what is right for our students, for our future.
Each of us commits to fighting this fight in the ways we are equipped to lead. I am honored to serve my community in this role, and I continue to be grateful for your encouragement to keep going… because it is messy work, and we have to do it anyway.
-April
P.S. Photos from readings in classrooms to honor Black History Month and Women's History Month, as well as the groundbreaking ceremony for the Performing Arts Center.
Wanted to share some updates on how HUSD is doing in the equity work I’ve championed over the past few years.
- Equity Policy: The makeup and purpose of the Equity Oversight Committee (“EOC”) was overhauled this school year to include collaboration from a larger stakeholder group, which includes the superintendent, Trustee Chaparro, and me. The EOC designed an equity tool (or rubric) to test future policies that will come before the board. Using this tool ensures an extra accountability measure for passing equitable policies in HUSD.
- Antiracism Policy: HUSD convened a task force to create and facilitate the mandatory Anti-bias/Anti-racist Training for all staff, and we are currently in year two of that training. The district is developing protocols to respond to the following areas of the policy: 1) recruit and retain staff who are aligned with this work, 2) restructure student discipline into restorative practices, 3) develop Ethnic Studies curriculum,4) design systems of accountability, and 5) conduct outreach for families.
- Ethnic Studies Policy: HUSD staff, Trustee Chaparro, and I are part of a task force working to develop a timeline for implementation, including community outreach, curriculum design, and professional development. Teachings will be centered on the lived experience of our students and in a way that centers our community. Additionally, Trustee Chaparro, along with Maya Walker and Corina Vasaure, will be presenting our work at the upcoming CABE Conference this weekend, since HUSD was the first district to pass a policy on Ethnic Studies after the model curriculum was adopted by the state.
- Literacy Plan: The passing of these three policies called for the district to develop a literacy plan (a key step in assuring equity for our students). Once implemented, the hope is to increase literacy rates for our students. Reading is a core issue when it comes to student success and equity work.
- Restorative Practices Policy: A key piece of the Antiracism Policy addresses “student discipline” in HUSD, specifically, that it needs to be centered on Restorative Practices rather than punitive measures. Trustee Prada and I sit on the committee with district and community leaders that has convened this school year to overhaul the existing board policy on “student discipline” and to craft practices that foster healing for our students and staff. We anticipate this policy will come before the board sometime this summer.
- Inclusion Policy: Another key component of equity work in action is examining the ways in which we can support our students in special education. Per my request, the district has convened a committee to evaluate how inclusive practices can be implemented in HUSD to make our general education and special education more unified in our schools. Sometimes, this is called “mainstreaming”; however, I much prefer to focus on the inclusion of all students while honoring the diversity of perspective and experience. Trustee Prada and I are members of both the committee to examine practices and the subcommittee writing the policy. We anticipate this policy will come before the board sometime this summer.
Another area that will require further attention is how to be more inclusive for our LGBTQIA+ students and staff. We are still in the early stages of putting EQUITY into ACTION with still a lot of work before us. AND, we have made major headway in the push for student-centered education that truly centers equity while other districts are still trying to figure things out.
I am really proud of how far we’ve come in such a short period of time, especially since all this has happened while navigating the pandemic. And, I’m humbled by the difficult work that still stands before us, doing my best to equip myself with the courage it will take to continue on. But what renews my faith in my work time and time again is the thought of all of you, doing your part to stand up for what is right for our students, for our future.
Each of us commits to fighting this fight in the ways we are equipped to lead. I am honored to serve my community in this role, and I continue to be grateful for your encouragement to keep going… because it is messy work, and we have to do it anyway.
-April
P.S. Photos from readings in classrooms to honor Black History Month and Women's History Month, as well as the groundbreaking ceremony for the Performing Arts Center.
January 11, 2022
Dear HUSD Community,
As you may know, Hayward Unified has temporarily moved to virtual learning for this week due to a staffing shortage resulting from a rise in COVID-19 cases. This has led to a serious concern over the health and safety of our students and staff. Learning is continuing at all schools this week, and families have the choice of sending their students to designated school sites where students can access virtual learning, internet access, and free school meals. Read more here.
The Superintendent and I determined that an emergency meeting of the Board of Education was needed to respond to the urgent requests for action that we received from many members of our community. Here’s what led to our decision to propose one week of virtual learning:
The Superintendent and I agreed that the district needed to take immediate action to resolve these two issues, despite the serious risk of losing state funding if we went against their guidance to stay in person for instruction (a risk in the ballpark of $2.5 million per day). And so Dr. Wayne worked closely with our labor partners to create a plan to bring before the board at the emergency meeting on Friday, January 7th. In an incredibly courageous move, the board voted 4-1 in favor of the temporary move to virtual learning.
There is a faction in our community advocating for the district to extend virtual learning beyond the board-approved 10 days (January 8-17). Their argument is based on the increased cases of COVID and particularly the spread of the Omicron variant.
I want to be clear that HUSD took action in direct response to the two issues noted above–staffing crisis and testing crisis.
The board meets again this coming Friday (1/14) to review the data in the district to determine if any additional actions are needed to maintain the safety of our community. In my mind, it’s a question of staffing availability. I do not support personal interpretations of COVID safety protocols. I believe in science, and I trust in the guidance of our Alameda County Public Health Department related to safety protocols. Therefore, this decision for me will remain anchored in evidence-based measures. I do not take lightly that HUSD has already taken such a serious risk to ensure the safety of our community. Hopefully the state will recognize our logic in this decision. However, if the state denies our waiver, our labor partners have already expressed their willingness to support the board and the district. And we may need your help in that effort.
In closing, I am looking forward to hearing how the district has used this week to organize staffing and testing support for our community, so we’ll be ready to return to classes on January 18th. I’m here to answer any questions, as always. Thank you for your continued support. I’ll be in touch soon with more updates!
-April
Dear HUSD Community,
As you may know, Hayward Unified has temporarily moved to virtual learning for this week due to a staffing shortage resulting from a rise in COVID-19 cases. This has led to a serious concern over the health and safety of our students and staff. Learning is continuing at all schools this week, and families have the choice of sending their students to designated school sites where students can access virtual learning, internet access, and free school meals. Read more here.
The Superintendent and I determined that an emergency meeting of the Board of Education was needed to respond to the urgent requests for action that we received from many members of our community. Here’s what led to our decision to propose one week of virtual learning:
- Staffing Shortages
- Our students, families, and staff were contracting COVID in record numbers, which worsened the staff shortages we faced before winter break, since our teachers and staff needed to quarantine and get well.
- Testing Impossibilities
- HUSD did not receive the rapid home tests from the state and county until Monday, January 3rd, which compromised the district’s plan for a safe return from winter break. Note, there was misinformation circulating about this issue, and so I want to be clear on two points. First, some school districts received tests sooner than HUSD because they were part of a pilot program for testing. Second, HUSD was supposed to receive the tests on Thursday, 12/30. Due to inclement weather, the tests did not arrive on time. Therefore, HUSD was unable to pick up the tests from the Alameda County Office of Education until Monday, 1/3, the first day of back to school.
- Testing across the state and the nation is impacted, which has delayed the turnaround in receiving results and inhibited many in our community from having quick access to testing.
The Superintendent and I agreed that the district needed to take immediate action to resolve these two issues, despite the serious risk of losing state funding if we went against their guidance to stay in person for instruction (a risk in the ballpark of $2.5 million per day). And so Dr. Wayne worked closely with our labor partners to create a plan to bring before the board at the emergency meeting on Friday, January 7th. In an incredibly courageous move, the board voted 4-1 in favor of the temporary move to virtual learning.
There is a faction in our community advocating for the district to extend virtual learning beyond the board-approved 10 days (January 8-17). Their argument is based on the increased cases of COVID and particularly the spread of the Omicron variant.
I want to be clear that HUSD took action in direct response to the two issues noted above–staffing crisis and testing crisis.
The board meets again this coming Friday (1/14) to review the data in the district to determine if any additional actions are needed to maintain the safety of our community. In my mind, it’s a question of staffing availability. I do not support personal interpretations of COVID safety protocols. I believe in science, and I trust in the guidance of our Alameda County Public Health Department related to safety protocols. Therefore, this decision for me will remain anchored in evidence-based measures. I do not take lightly that HUSD has already taken such a serious risk to ensure the safety of our community. Hopefully the state will recognize our logic in this decision. However, if the state denies our waiver, our labor partners have already expressed their willingness to support the board and the district. And we may need your help in that effort.
In closing, I am looking forward to hearing how the district has used this week to organize staffing and testing support for our community, so we’ll be ready to return to classes on January 18th. I’m here to answer any questions, as always. Thank you for your continued support. I’ll be in touch soon with more updates!
-April
2021
November 23, 2021
Dear HUSD Community,
As many of you know by now, the Board of Education has made the very difficult decision to close two of our elementary schools: Bowman and Strobridge. There will also be a relocation to elementary sites for some of our preschool programs. The Board also voted to table the remainder of the closures and relocations to allow for more in-depth analysis and discussion.
The impact of closing schools on our families, students, staff, and community cannot be understated; these are major changes in the lives of so many, and to have to make these tough decisions is incredibly emotional and sobering for everyone.
It was by far the most heart wrenching vote I’ve cast as a board member. Not only do I feel the weight of this decision as a trustee, but I also feel the personal impact. Glassbrook is a school where I have spent countless hours volunteering, even before I was elected to the school board. I love the students and staff and families there, and the thought of its closure is devastating to me. That said, I did vote in support of school closures, and I’d like to offer a little insight as to what led to this unanimous vote from the Board.
Declining Enrollment
Our schools are designed to serve 24,000, yet we’re currently serving 18,000. It’s just obvious that something needs to be done to adjust for this drastic disparity in facility-to-student ratio. Previous school boards knew that declining enrollment was an issue and continued to delay making this difficult decision. Our board chose to not turn away from what we know is the inevitable outcome of school closures. Tough decisions deferred only makes it harder to do in the future. The stakes and consequences get much higher, and it isn’t right to pass those consequences on to future students or to future board members. Delaying action will guarantee that future Hayward families and staff will have to face this challenge as part of their experience.
Priorities
The District has limited resources. Keeping schools with declining enrollment open means we have even fewer resources to fund our priorities. More schools open means spending extra money on facilities we don’t need to best serve our students. Students can attend other neighborhood schools without increasing class sizes or reducing services. By closing extra facilities, we ensure that all of our students have the resources they need around literacy, the arts, social emotional learning, culturally and linguistically relevant instruction, ethnic studies curriculum, restorative practices, instruction that is anti-biased and antiracist, an education focused on equity, along with all the other programs the district hopes to develop and expand. In a year, the declining enrollment will not have changed for the better, and in a year, our priorities will not have changed.
Funding Education
Education in California is underfunded. We need a system change. Districts across the state have been underfunded for decades. Perhaps we can talk about how we as a community can advocate for full funding. I have personally advocated for this needed change, but there is much more we can be doing collectively. In this moment, the reality is we must make these impossible choices about how we operate schools because we just don’t have enough funding to do education the way it needs to be done to best serve our students. In other words, we should get enough funding from the State to keep neighborhood schools in modernized and safe facilities while offering amazing programs for all our students. But so long as we underfund education in California, these educational outcomes cannot be realized.
I know the impact of this vote is hard on everyone. But the voters elected the board members because they trusted us to do the right thing. I have to lead based on what I believe is the right thing to do. Sometimes that means doing what is difficult. But that is my obligation to our community—to do what is in the best interest of all our students, even when it’s hard.
I was relieved that the board agreed with my amendment to form committees: one to help with transitions in SY 22/23 and another to create solutions for SY 23/24 and SY 24/25. I believe in our ability to work together to guide this process moving forward, as we continue to face declining enrollment, long-term shortfalls in the budget, and $900 million in facility needs.
We need to move forward. Since I’ve been on the board, we’ve been under continued pressure to address our declining enrollment and to balance our ongoing budget. This is an important step in doing that. Once we can shift away from the funds needed to maintain small schools in old buildings, the more we can invest in the programming opportunities we want for all our students.
Be sure to stay connected and follow future updates on the HUSD Operational Sustainability webpage.
-April
Dear HUSD Community,
As many of you know by now, the Board of Education has made the very difficult decision to close two of our elementary schools: Bowman and Strobridge. There will also be a relocation to elementary sites for some of our preschool programs. The Board also voted to table the remainder of the closures and relocations to allow for more in-depth analysis and discussion.
The impact of closing schools on our families, students, staff, and community cannot be understated; these are major changes in the lives of so many, and to have to make these tough decisions is incredibly emotional and sobering for everyone.
It was by far the most heart wrenching vote I’ve cast as a board member. Not only do I feel the weight of this decision as a trustee, but I also feel the personal impact. Glassbrook is a school where I have spent countless hours volunteering, even before I was elected to the school board. I love the students and staff and families there, and the thought of its closure is devastating to me. That said, I did vote in support of school closures, and I’d like to offer a little insight as to what led to this unanimous vote from the Board.
Declining Enrollment
Our schools are designed to serve 24,000, yet we’re currently serving 18,000. It’s just obvious that something needs to be done to adjust for this drastic disparity in facility-to-student ratio. Previous school boards knew that declining enrollment was an issue and continued to delay making this difficult decision. Our board chose to not turn away from what we know is the inevitable outcome of school closures. Tough decisions deferred only makes it harder to do in the future. The stakes and consequences get much higher, and it isn’t right to pass those consequences on to future students or to future board members. Delaying action will guarantee that future Hayward families and staff will have to face this challenge as part of their experience.
Priorities
The District has limited resources. Keeping schools with declining enrollment open means we have even fewer resources to fund our priorities. More schools open means spending extra money on facilities we don’t need to best serve our students. Students can attend other neighborhood schools without increasing class sizes or reducing services. By closing extra facilities, we ensure that all of our students have the resources they need around literacy, the arts, social emotional learning, culturally and linguistically relevant instruction, ethnic studies curriculum, restorative practices, instruction that is anti-biased and antiracist, an education focused on equity, along with all the other programs the district hopes to develop and expand. In a year, the declining enrollment will not have changed for the better, and in a year, our priorities will not have changed.
Funding Education
Education in California is underfunded. We need a system change. Districts across the state have been underfunded for decades. Perhaps we can talk about how we as a community can advocate for full funding. I have personally advocated for this needed change, but there is much more we can be doing collectively. In this moment, the reality is we must make these impossible choices about how we operate schools because we just don’t have enough funding to do education the way it needs to be done to best serve our students. In other words, we should get enough funding from the State to keep neighborhood schools in modernized and safe facilities while offering amazing programs for all our students. But so long as we underfund education in California, these educational outcomes cannot be realized.
I know the impact of this vote is hard on everyone. But the voters elected the board members because they trusted us to do the right thing. I have to lead based on what I believe is the right thing to do. Sometimes that means doing what is difficult. But that is my obligation to our community—to do what is in the best interest of all our students, even when it’s hard.
I was relieved that the board agreed with my amendment to form committees: one to help with transitions in SY 22/23 and another to create solutions for SY 23/24 and SY 24/25. I believe in our ability to work together to guide this process moving forward, as we continue to face declining enrollment, long-term shortfalls in the budget, and $900 million in facility needs.
We need to move forward. Since I’ve been on the board, we’ve been under continued pressure to address our declining enrollment and to balance our ongoing budget. This is an important step in doing that. Once we can shift away from the funds needed to maintain small schools in old buildings, the more we can invest in the programming opportunities we want for all our students.
Be sure to stay connected and follow future updates on the HUSD Operational Sustainability webpage.
-April
June 24, 2021
The 2020-21 school year is now officially behind us. It’s been a year that has asked so much from our students, our educators, and our families. And after attending all the end-of-year festivities, it’s easy to see how resilient this year has made us. We’ve made it through together. And thankfully, the next school year will bring students back to sites after over a year of distance learning.
Aside from that good news, wanted to share a few updates on what’s been happening in HUSD:
HUSD Pride
Our next board meeting is July 28th at 6:30pm. We always appreciate hearing from the community, so please join us if you can! This will be our first in-person meeting since March 2020 (we will also still be offering livestream participation on Zoom).
Lots of Love,
April
The 2020-21 school year is now officially behind us. It’s been a year that has asked so much from our students, our educators, and our families. And after attending all the end-of-year festivities, it’s easy to see how resilient this year has made us. We’ve made it through together. And thankfully, the next school year will bring students back to sites after over a year of distance learning.
Aside from that good news, wanted to share a few updates on what’s been happening in HUSD:
HUSD Pride
- One of the biggest highlights of spring was a board resolution to declare June as Pride Month. Hayward High hosted a flag-raising ceremony on June 1st to demonstrate the district’s commitment to more inclusive practices. Each site in HUSD will fly the pride flag throughout the month of June as a symbol of love, support, and affirmation for the LGBTQIA+ community.
- Measure H projects continue to improve our school facilities and create positive learning environments for our students. The new Harder Elementary is up and running, several schools are flaunting beautiful new paint jobs, and paving projects are completed. The board also approved a classroom refresh for Mt. Eden, Tennyson, and Hayward high schools.
- As part of the Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) update, the board passed a resolution to declare HUSD prioritizes Equity in Arts Education. The district also adopted the California State Arts Standards, helping Hayward become a true VAPA district.
- The development of the HUSD Literacy Plan is underway and includes a new textbook adoption. We’re pushing for an intentional approach based on equity, science-based learning, dual-language learners, and cultural responsiveness.
- The Local Control and Accountability Plan for HUSD was approved based on the extensive feedback from multiple stakeholder groups that worked hard to prepare this hundreds-page long document. The approval of the LCAP expresses the board’s commitment to equity, antiracism, Social Emotional Learning (SEL), literacy, restorative practices, trauma-responsive approaches, and the science of learning.
- And what I’m most excited to share—last night, the Board of Education passed a Board Policy on Ethnic Studies. This policy will not only make Ethnic Studies courses a graduation requirement, but it also will create a system of education that centers Ethnic Studies across grades and disciplines. This policy supports the district’s commitment to antiracism and responds directly to the needs of our students, whose diverse backgrounds must be reflected in the curriculum and content taught in HUSD. The policy also includes Critical Race Theory and centralizes the Liberated Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum. The policy was written in collaboration with and in response to the grassroots efforts led by HUSD educators and advocates of Ethnic Studies in our community. It was an honor to help author and sponsor this board policy, and I can’t thank the team enough who volunteered their time to help write it.
Our next board meeting is July 28th at 6:30pm. We always appreciate hearing from the community, so please join us if you can! This will be our first in-person meeting since March 2020 (we will also still be offering livestream participation on Zoom).
Lots of Love,
April
March 3, 2021
Dear HUSD Community,
Even though we’re only a few months in, 2021 has already been a busy year in HUSD. COVID response continues to be a top priority, and we’re also focused on the work of equity and antiracism. Here’s an update on both, along with a few highlights:
COVID Response
-April
Dear HUSD Community,
Even though we’re only a few months in, 2021 has already been a busy year in HUSD. COVID response continues to be a top priority, and we’re also focused on the work of equity and antiracism. Here’s an update on both, along with a few highlights:
COVID Response
- HUSD is starting small cohort pilot programs at two schools and will expand the program to serve as many of our students as possible. Today, our District Advisory Committee will discuss how quickly to expand in-person learning opportunities and whether to make them available to all interested students for this school year. We also need to hear from families to help plan for the remainder of this school year, so be sure to participate in the survey if you have children in HUSD (should be coming out Friday).
- CDC guidelines state that “it is important to adopt and diligently implement actions to slow the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 inside the school and out in the community.” While Alameda County as a whole may be slowing the spread of the virus, our community here in HUSD is still at great risk. According to the Healthy Places Index, Hayward has two zip codes in Quartile 1 (defined as “significant rate of COVID transmission"). Therefore, we must continue to look at the numbers zip code by zip code to inform our decisions about when to return to in-person learning.
- Big thanks to Alameda County for bringing school district staff into Tier 1b for vaccination distribution and for placing a mobile clinic in Hayward. This was a really big step and will hopefully set a standard for other counties in California to follow. And while it is definitely important to vaccinate our district staff, the risk still remains that our families contract the virus if we return to in-person learning while HUSD is still in Quartile 1. Vaccinating community members in those two zip codes will help us slow the spread of the virus in our area.
- We had the first Equity and Antiracism Midyear Report on our Antiracism Policy and Equity Policy. There’s still much to do, but we know the work begins in the personal, local, and immediate. We hope the trainings inspire everyone to examine how this culture of white supremacy has conditioned the way we think about race. I’m making a daily practice of seeing where that conditioning has impacted me; when it creeps in, I take a deep breath to let that harmful conditioning go and then act instead from a place of love, healing, and justice.
- After months spent reimagining how to keep our schools safe, the board unanimously decided to discontinue our contract with the SRO program (to remove armed police officers from our school sites) and to instead invest in the mental health of our students and in hiring more of Campus Safety Officers (unarmed security who are HUSD staff). We will also develop opportunities to engage our students in positive interactions with the Hayward Police Department to foster healing and restoration in our community.
- We supported a community-led effort for an inclusive redistricting process for Alameda County (read the resolution).
- We appointed a new board member (welcome to the team, Mr. Gabriel Chaparro!).
- Lots of facility improvements at our sites, including new roofing at Chavez, Hayward High, and Southgate; exterior painting at several sites; secured fencing; playground improvements; paving restoration at Southgate, Ruus, and Bret Harte (see pictures below); and fire alarm and PA system replacement at Chavez. Thank you again for approving Measure H! More updates to come as the projects continue toward completion.
- HUSD passed a resolution to oppose mandated state standardized tests for this school year and to declare the district’s commitment to let families know about their right to opt out of these tests. We question the efficacy of such testing given the circumstances of this school year and the unnecessary anxiety and trauma such testing would inflict on our students. If you live outside HUSD, consider asking your district to pass one!
-April
2020
December 20, 2020
Dear HUSD Community,
I write to share an update about events that have caused many of us in Hayward concern. As you may have heard, another board member, Dr. Luis Reynoso, ran for and was elected to serve on the boards of both the Hayward Unified School District and the Chabot-Las Positas College District. It’s come to our attention that holding seats on both boards violates California Education Code and Government Code. Though the law is clear that Dr. Reynoso may not serve on both boards, we’re providing him the opportunity to withdraw from one by the end of the year. If he does not, the HUSD Board will declare a vacancy.
No doubt, this has been a difficult decision, but we had to do what we felt was right. We’ve been able to extend consideration to our fellow board member, while also honoring the law and acting with integrity.
Read more here.
I’m here to answer any questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to reach out.
-April
Dear HUSD Community,
I write to share an update about events that have caused many of us in Hayward concern. As you may have heard, another board member, Dr. Luis Reynoso, ran for and was elected to serve on the boards of both the Hayward Unified School District and the Chabot-Las Positas College District. It’s come to our attention that holding seats on both boards violates California Education Code and Government Code. Though the law is clear that Dr. Reynoso may not serve on both boards, we’re providing him the opportunity to withdraw from one by the end of the year. If he does not, the HUSD Board will declare a vacancy.
No doubt, this has been a difficult decision, but we had to do what we felt was right. We’ve been able to extend consideration to our fellow board member, while also honoring the law and acting with integrity.
Read more here.
I’m here to answer any questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to reach out.
-April
November 27, 2020
Dear HUSD Community,
I hope you’re all enjoying a restful long weekend. Like many of you, Zachariah and I stayed home to do our part in slowing the spread of the virus. This pandemic continues to invite reflection—how to grieve what’s been lost while also embracing change with grace and humility. My hope is that we’re able to increase our capacity for gratitude, even in the most challenging of times.
That said, I know COVID has taken a lot away from us this year, but given this season of giving thanks, I want to offer some highlights from the past few months in HUSD:
In closing, I’d like to share a quote from one of my favorite writers, Robin Wall Kimmerer. In Braiding Sweetgrass, she writes,
“In a culture of gratitude, everyone knows that gifts will follow the circle of reciprocity and flow back to you again. This time you give and next time you receive. Both the honor of giving and the humility of receiving are necessary halves of the equation…The moral covenant of reciprocity calls us to honor our responsibilities for all we have been given, for all that we have taken…Whatever our gift, we are called to give it and to dance for the renewal of the world. In return for the privilege of breath.”
Gratitude must be paired with a recognition of giving back, of reciprocity. I’m thinking now about what gifts I can give back, and I’m looking forward to seeing our entire community rise to that same challenge of gratitude with reciprocity.
In Solidarity,
April
Dear HUSD Community,
I hope you’re all enjoying a restful long weekend. Like many of you, Zachariah and I stayed home to do our part in slowing the spread of the virus. This pandemic continues to invite reflection—how to grieve what’s been lost while also embracing change with grace and humility. My hope is that we’re able to increase our capacity for gratitude, even in the most challenging of times.
That said, I know COVID has taken a lot away from us this year, but given this season of giving thanks, I want to offer some highlights from the past few months in HUSD:
- Joint Meeting with City Council (August 4th)
- The community expressed over and over how thankful they were to see these two governing bodies come together to discuss two pressing issues affecting our community: our COVID-19 Response and the Youth and Family Services Bureau (YFSB) Programs, including the district use of School Resource Officers (SROs). After two additional meetings, the Board of Education requested that staff bring back two options for a final vote—one option of services that includes the SRO program, and another that does not include the SRO program. As I stated in each of the meetings on this topic, our focus must be to dismantle and eliminate the school-to-prison pipeline. We do this through compassionate early interventions and by investing funds toward repair, restoration, and healing-informed practices. Studies repeatedly show the ineffectiveness of police on school sites, particularly for our marginalized students. These studies also tell us what is effective—counselors, nurses, social workers, educators (see Congress Bill S. 4360). I will continue to support safe and inclusive schools through the removal of police presence at our school sites and by investing instead in what we know is effective and safe for all our students.
- Board Policy on Antiracism
- Previously referred to as the Antiracism Agenda (see newsletters from March 20th and June 3rd), I am so incredibly thankful to report that on August 19th, this agenda became board policy. Thank you to everyone who helped write the language for the policy, who advocated for its passage, and who continue to push for the change it requires us all to make. It was truly a team effort and one that did not come easy. But we can already see signs of hope; for example, this year HUSD launched a mandated Anti-bias/Antiracism training (designed by passionate staff members committed to the work of racial justice). One other piece of good news—in the process of passing the Antiracism Policy, we were able to strengthen our Board Policy on Equity in a meaningful way (see both policies here).
- Literacy Plan
- At our meeting on August 19th, the board agreed that HUSD needed a literacy plan to support our commitment to equity. A rigorous literacy plan will ensure our students get the support they need to be able to read at grade-level. The Literacy Plan is being designed by a team of our own educators who are expert in the fields of beginning literacy and the science of learning.
- Charter School Accountability
- We continue to hold charter schools in Hayward accountable. Our job as a governance team is to be responsible in doing our due diligence. I am opposed to the inequitable outcomes that charter schools tend to produce—in terms of racial diversity, cultural underrepresentation, and socioeconomic standing (highly recommend reading this article to learn more about such stratification). The simple fact is that charter schools take money away from district schools. My sincere hope is that charter schools in Hayward will dismantle the inequitable outcomes we discussed at the board meetings on October 28th and November 18th. I also hope they will work hard to bring in more diversity, in all its facets, so our students have the benefit of experiencing an education that values both equity and diversity.
- Housing for Unaccompanied Immigrant Youth (UIY)
- HUSD entered into contract with Covenant House to provide housing for UIY. I can’t express enough how grateful I am to see this project moving forward. We owe a debt of gratitude to the South Alameda County Unaccompanied Minors & Migrant Families Collaborative (founded in 2014) for their longtime efforts to secure housing for our UIY experiencing homelessness. Special thanks to Pastor Arlene Nehring at Eden United Church of Christ for her leadership on this—she saw a need in our community and worked tirelessly to move us forward.
- Equitable Grading Practices
- I’ve mentioned a few times now in my Board Comments my concern about our current system of grading. To me, it needed major rethinking before COVID forced us into distance learning; however, we see the need to rethink grading both in terms of our commitment to antiracist work and also to push for equitable grading practices that are human centered. I’ve been learning from the work of Cornelius Minor—an advocate for antiracist grading policies (watch an interview here). I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter and if you have any resources to pass along.
In closing, I’d like to share a quote from one of my favorite writers, Robin Wall Kimmerer. In Braiding Sweetgrass, she writes,
“In a culture of gratitude, everyone knows that gifts will follow the circle of reciprocity and flow back to you again. This time you give and next time you receive. Both the honor of giving and the humility of receiving are necessary halves of the equation…The moral covenant of reciprocity calls us to honor our responsibilities for all we have been given, for all that we have taken…Whatever our gift, we are called to give it and to dance for the renewal of the world. In return for the privilege of breath.”
Gratitude must be paired with a recognition of giving back, of reciprocity. I’m thinking now about what gifts I can give back, and I’m looking forward to seeing our entire community rise to that same challenge of gratitude with reciprocity.
In Solidarity,
April
July 27, 2020
If you missed our forum on Prop 15, please watch on YouTube. Thank you for your help getting this important initiative passed to support our schools by getting the funding we so desperately need.
If you missed our forum on Prop 15, please watch on YouTube. Thank you for your help getting this important initiative passed to support our schools by getting the funding we so desperately need.
July 8, 2020
Dear HUSD Community,
Prop 15--the Schools & Communities First initiative--is on the ballot this November, and we must pass it to ensure equitable recovery and reinvestment in California's schools and communities.
To learn more about Prop 15, please join us for a free online community forum on Monday, July 27th from 6:00-7:00pm.
Guest Speakers
Passing Prop 15 would reclaim $12 billion every year for our students and local neighborhoods by closing the commercial property tax loopholes that benefit a fraction of large corporations and wealthy real estate investors. California has underfunded education for decades, and passing Prop 15 will allow us to invest in our students and families and to get them the support they need.
Looking forward to seeing you!
-April
Dear HUSD Community,
Prop 15--the Schools & Communities First initiative--is on the ballot this November, and we must pass it to ensure equitable recovery and reinvestment in California's schools and communities.
To learn more about Prop 15, please join us for a free online community forum on Monday, July 27th from 6:00-7:00pm.
Guest Speakers
- Jahmese Myres, Schools & Communities First
- Angela Normand and Mercedes Faraj, CTA
- Penny Peck and Jo Loss, League of Women Voters Eden Area
- Moderated by Maya Walker, CTA
Passing Prop 15 would reclaim $12 billion every year for our students and local neighborhoods by closing the commercial property tax loopholes that benefit a fraction of large corporations and wealthy real estate investors. California has underfunded education for decades, and passing Prop 15 will allow us to invest in our students and families and to get them the support they need.
Looking forward to seeing you!
-April
June 10, 2020
Dear HUSD Community,
Right now, we see a push for leadership at every level to respond and commit to antiracist policies, practices, and procedures. In education, the issue of charter schools is one way these opportunities to fight for racial justice appear.
The reasons why I stand firmly against charter schools are many (and I'm happy to talk to you about that anytime). To do antiracist work, educators and policy-makers MUST dismantle the racist practices upon which many charters rely and MUST prevent the racist outcomes too many charter schools produce. Because the proliferation of charters leads to racist practices and outcomes, educational leaders committed to antiracist work have a duty to stop all new charters and to stop expansion of existing charters. Remember, you're either promoting a racist policy or an antiracist policy.
Why is the issue of charter schools one about race? An award-winning scholar on the intersection of race and education, Dr. Bettina Love, in her most recent book, We Want to Do More than Survive: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom, writes this:
"[C]harter schools perpetuate inequalities, pulling high-achieving students from traditional public schools...These schools function to feed the school-to-prison pipeline that targets dark children... charter schools suspend Black students and students with disabilities at highly disproportionate rates compared with White and non-disabled students... it's another way in which the educational survival complex and the prison-industrial complex are tied together to profit from dark suffering... To push to open so many charter schools, when only 17 percent of them academically outperform public schools, it tied to profiting from dark suffering" (30-33 or read the full excerpt here).
And there are other civil rights organizations in agreement:
What we need is a coalition of community members who will help apply pressure to local elected leaders when future votes come up. That might mean sending an email or showing up to board of education meetings to share your concerns with the elected officials. If you're in Alameda County and willing to advocate on the issue of charter schools, please send me an email response, so I can add you to my advocacy list on this issue.
In Solidarity,
April
P.S. I want to be clear here—this position piece is directed to policy makers to ask why they do not honor the request for a moratorium.
Dear HUSD Community,
Right now, we see a push for leadership at every level to respond and commit to antiracist policies, practices, and procedures. In education, the issue of charter schools is one way these opportunities to fight for racial justice appear.
The reasons why I stand firmly against charter schools are many (and I'm happy to talk to you about that anytime). To do antiracist work, educators and policy-makers MUST dismantle the racist practices upon which many charters rely and MUST prevent the racist outcomes too many charter schools produce. Because the proliferation of charters leads to racist practices and outcomes, educational leaders committed to antiracist work have a duty to stop all new charters and to stop expansion of existing charters. Remember, you're either promoting a racist policy or an antiracist policy.
Why is the issue of charter schools one about race? An award-winning scholar on the intersection of race and education, Dr. Bettina Love, in her most recent book, We Want to Do More than Survive: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom, writes this:
"[C]harter schools perpetuate inequalities, pulling high-achieving students from traditional public schools...These schools function to feed the school-to-prison pipeline that targets dark children... charter schools suspend Black students and students with disabilities at highly disproportionate rates compared with White and non-disabled students... it's another way in which the educational survival complex and the prison-industrial complex are tied together to profit from dark suffering... To push to open so many charter schools, when only 17 percent of them academically outperform public schools, it tied to profiting from dark suffering" (30-33 or read the full excerpt here).
And there are other civil rights organizations in agreement:
- NAACP in 2016 passed a resolution to call for a moratorium on charter schools
- Movement for Black Lives, which includes organizations such as Black Lives Matter, in 2016 called for a moratorium on charter schools (read more here and here).
What we need is a coalition of community members who will help apply pressure to local elected leaders when future votes come up. That might mean sending an email or showing up to board of education meetings to share your concerns with the elected officials. If you're in Alameda County and willing to advocate on the issue of charter schools, please send me an email response, so I can add you to my advocacy list on this issue.
In Solidarity,
April
P.S. I want to be clear here—this position piece is directed to policy makers to ask why they do not honor the request for a moratorium.
- I advocate that policy makers in education honor the request for a moratorium—no new charters, no expansion of existing charters. I do not advocate to close good existing charter schools down.
- I direct this position to our policy makers, not to parents. I support parent choice, especially those parents who gave district schools a chance before going to a charter school.
- I direct this position to the charter school movement, not to individual charter schools. While I believe we must all honestly and earnestly reevaluate protocols and norms to stop racist practices and policies (just as we are doing in HUSD), I know there are charter schools doing good work to educate and support our underserved students and families, and I commend them for that good work.
June 3, 2020
Dear HUSD Community,
As a white female of privilege, it is difficult to know what to say in times of racial strife and tension. There are deep feelings of inadequacy that can hold you back from speaking up at times when you’re just not sure what to do or say. And I have felt that. However, I also recognize that in my role as a governing board member, I am obligated to speak up and to use whatever power and authority I have been given to do and say what is right and just.
I ran for the school board to promote equity and opportunity for all our students. And even with all the study I’d done before being elected, I realized I still had a lot of learning to do. My privilege has allowed me to be a bystander, rather than experience racism. However, I intentionally chose to be a learner as well as a bystander, and I’ve learned a lot; not just from reading all the books and attending all the conferences, but because of courageous conversations and building trusting relationships with many of you—our students, parents, district leaders, teachers, and staff. And I remain humble in knowing that I still have much more learning to do.
One of my primary jobs as a board member is to drive policy, and, as such, I’ve taken what I’ve learned about antiracism and equity so far, to write a Board Policy on Antiracism in HUSD.
This antiracist policy is different from our policy on equity. Equity is about equipping students with tailored toolkits, so they can thrive. Equity is the goal; antiracist work is the only means to achieve that goal. Antiracist work requires acknowledging the ways systemic racism and white supremacy infect every aspect of our education system. Antiracist work demands that we dismantle and then eliminate those racist systems. This challenge is as big as racism is deep and pervasive. And here’s the truth—we will never achieve equity if we don’t first do the hard work of becoming antiracists. This means addressing racism in our district operations and in our hearts.
Many of you saw a sketch of this antiracist agenda in my March newsletter (below), and here's a link to the current version. I am thankful to the voices that helped me write and shape this antiracist agenda, and before it is crafted into the language of Board Policy, I welcome input from community members who are also committed to racial and social justice AND antiracism (email me at [email protected]).
Remember Nelson Mandela's words: "Education is the most powerful weapon that you can use to change the world."
In Solidarity,
April
Dear HUSD Community,
As a white female of privilege, it is difficult to know what to say in times of racial strife and tension. There are deep feelings of inadequacy that can hold you back from speaking up at times when you’re just not sure what to do or say. And I have felt that. However, I also recognize that in my role as a governing board member, I am obligated to speak up and to use whatever power and authority I have been given to do and say what is right and just.
I ran for the school board to promote equity and opportunity for all our students. And even with all the study I’d done before being elected, I realized I still had a lot of learning to do. My privilege has allowed me to be a bystander, rather than experience racism. However, I intentionally chose to be a learner as well as a bystander, and I’ve learned a lot; not just from reading all the books and attending all the conferences, but because of courageous conversations and building trusting relationships with many of you—our students, parents, district leaders, teachers, and staff. And I remain humble in knowing that I still have much more learning to do.
One of my primary jobs as a board member is to drive policy, and, as such, I’ve taken what I’ve learned about antiracism and equity so far, to write a Board Policy on Antiracism in HUSD.
This antiracist policy is different from our policy on equity. Equity is about equipping students with tailored toolkits, so they can thrive. Equity is the goal; antiracist work is the only means to achieve that goal. Antiracist work requires acknowledging the ways systemic racism and white supremacy infect every aspect of our education system. Antiracist work demands that we dismantle and then eliminate those racist systems. This challenge is as big as racism is deep and pervasive. And here’s the truth—we will never achieve equity if we don’t first do the hard work of becoming antiracists. This means addressing racism in our district operations and in our hearts.
Many of you saw a sketch of this antiracist agenda in my March newsletter (below), and here's a link to the current version. I am thankful to the voices that helped me write and shape this antiracist agenda, and before it is crafted into the language of Board Policy, I welcome input from community members who are also committed to racial and social justice AND antiracism (email me at [email protected]).
Remember Nelson Mandela's words: "Education is the most powerful weapon that you can use to change the world."
In Solidarity,
April
March 20, 2020
Dear HUSD Community,
Last week, HUSD made the difficult decision to close our schools. I continue to be heartened by the love and dedication our staff has demonstrated in supporting our students and families.
Here's what we're up to:
The California Dashboard released their results from last year, and while HUSD has made improvement in some areas, the indicators show we still have a lot of work left to do, particularly to support our students of color. We continue to have engaging and thoughtful conversations about how to address equity and how to push for antiracist practices and policies in our schools. A few areas of advocacy include the following:
I'll sign off with a few highlights from the last three months:
As always, I'm here to listen and help. Please don't hesitate to reach out. In the meantime, stay well!
-April
Dear HUSD Community,
Last week, HUSD made the difficult decision to close our schools. I continue to be heartened by the love and dedication our staff has demonstrated in supporting our students and families.
Here's what we're up to:
- Grab-and-go meals: breakfast and lunch available at ten of our school sites, M-F, 11am-12pm. No ID required. For all students under 18 years old. This week, we also gave out 10-day learning packets.
- Stay up-to-date on resources provided by HUSD.
- Home Learning Resources: HUSD is working hard to keep our students engaged in educational activities while they're away from the classroom. Check out the creative activities shared by HUSD Early Learning for Pre-K students.
The California Dashboard released their results from last year, and while HUSD has made improvement in some areas, the indicators show we still have a lot of work left to do, particularly to support our students of color. We continue to have engaging and thoughtful conversations about how to address equity and how to push for antiracist practices and policies in our schools. A few areas of advocacy include the following:
- Reform student discipline practices to be restorative and healing rather than punitive and discriminatory. We must do all we can to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline. If you have some free time in the next few weeks... watch "Notes from the Field."
- Provide comprehensive professional development to our entire team on critical race theory, implicit bias, culturally and linguistically responsive teaching, and trauma-informed approaches and practices.
- Recruit and retain teachers of color: studies show the added value of social-emotional development and improved learning outcomes.
- Pull everyone into this work and hold ourselves accountable.
I'll sign off with a few highlights from the last three months:
- Thanks to all the schools who hosted read-in days to honor Read Across America. I was thrilled to visit Treeview and Tyrrell.
- Congratulations to Lisa Tess, our Educator of the Year and Principal at Winton Middle School!
- We have an impressive cohort of student ambassadors this year, and I'm looking forward to seeing how they move ahead to accomplish their goals.
- Black History Month was full of inspiring and educational events. I was able to attend the MLK Birthday Celebration, the AAREA Professional Development Summit, the African-American read-in at Burbank, the Black Expo at Cherryland, and the AASAI Oratorical and VAPA Festival.
- I want to give a shout-out to Eden United Church of Christ for their continued work to support unaccompanied youth in our community. They hosted another Accompaniment Training on February 23rd. Join the Accompaniment Network to get involved.
- HUSD is dedicated to supporting the Visual and Performing Arts, and we've got some talented students to prove it! Thanks to Hayward City Hall for displaying the creative work of our students at the Art is Education event on March 6th.
- We have some pioneering parents in our community, and it's been an honor to participate in deeper conversations with them over the past few months. We've formed a Community Concerns Task Force to work with our families on how to address issues in the district. We know that when we all work together, powerful changes can happen! Here's one example: Parents at Chavez Middle School recognized that students taking the English Language exam would need additional support, since the test converted to using Chromebooks this year. Parents collaborated with administrators, teachers, and staff to conduct a 3-week academy to help students prepare for the test. At their graduation on March 7th, their pride for their hard work was evident and well deserved.
As always, I'm here to listen and help. Please don't hesitate to reach out. In the meantime, stay well!
-April
