Special Education Partnership Committee minutes — Sept. 22, 2025
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The Oakland City Council Special Education Partnership Committee met on September 22, 2025 at 3:30 PM in the City Council Chamber (3rd Floor). Councilmember Rowena Brown presided; committee members Ken Houston, Rowena Brown, Zac Unger and Councilmember Noel Gallo (noted present at 3:34 PM) participated. The committee accepted the draft minutes from Sept. 30, 2024, determined the schedule of outstanding committee items, and received informational reports on the state of education in Alameda County and in Oakland Unified School District, tech pathways in OUSD (including Bridge to AI), and school safety in OUSD. The meeting was adjourned at 6:14 PM.
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Key decisions
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- Approved draft minutes from the Committee meeting of September 30, 2024 (Aye: Houston, Brown, Gallo; Abstained: Unger).
- Accepted the determination of the schedule of outstanding committee items (Aye: Houston, Brown, Gallo, Unger).
- Received and filed informational report: State of Education in Alameda County from Alameda County Superintendent Alysse Castro (Aye: Houston, Brown, Gallo, Unger).
- Received and filed informational report: State of Education in Oakland Unified School District from OUSD Superintendent Dr. Denise Saddler (Aye: Houston, Brown, Gallo, Unger).
- Received and filed informational report: School Safety in Oakland Unified School District from OUSD Executive Director of School Safety Nelson Alegria (Aye: Brown, Gallo, Unger; Excused: Houston).
- Received and filed informational report: Tech Pathways in Oakland Unified School District from OUSD Computer Science Coordinator Sam Berg and Northeastern University Bridge to AI Director Alli Chagi-Starr (Aye: Brown, Gallo, Unger; Excused: Houston).
- Chair modified the agenda to hear Item 6 (School Safety) before Item 5 (Tech Pathways).
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*Special Education Partnership Committee
Agenda
- The Public May Observe And/Or Participate In This Meeting Many Ways. OBSERVE: • To observe, the public may view the televised video conference by viewing KTOP channel 10 on Xfinity (Comcast) or ATT Channel 99 and locating City of Oakland KTOP - Channel 10 • To observe the meeting online from the City’s Agenda Meeting Calendar, at the noticed meeting time, please click on https://oakland.legistar.com/calendar.aspx and click on the “In Progress” link under “Video” for the corresponding meeting. • To observe the meeting by video conference, please click on this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83891837498 at the noticed meeting time. • To listen to the meeting by phone, please call the numbers below at the noticed meeting time: Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):US: +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 929 436 2866 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or 833 548 0282 (Toll Free) or 877 853 5247 (Toll Free) or 888 788 0099 (Toll Free) or 833 548 0276 (Toll Free) Meeting ID: 838 9183 7498 If asked for a participant ID or code, press #. PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE TAKEN ON EACH ACTION ITEM. ALL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK MUST FILL OUT A SPEAKER CARD FOR EACH ITEM. SPEAKERS' CARDS MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE CITY CLERK BEFORE THE ITEM IS READ INTO THE RECORD. COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA WILL BE TAKEN DURING OPEN FORUM AT THE END OF THE MEETING. ELECTRONIC SPEAKER CARDS/PUBLIC COMMENTS: • eComment. To send your comment directly to Council members go to https://oakland.legistar.com/calendar.aspx and click on the “eComment” link for the corresponding meeting. Please note that eComment submission closes twenty-four (24) hours before meeting start time. • To Comment In Person Members Of The Public Must Submit A Separate Speaker Card For Each Item On The Agenda To The City Clerk Before The Item Is Called. SPEAKER CARDS WILL BE ACCEPTED WITHIN THE FIRST 10 MINUTES OF THIS MEETING. • To Submit An Electronic Speaker Card, Members Of The Public Must (1) Visit The City Of Oakland Meeting Calendar Website At: https://oakland.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx (2) Click the hyperlink labeled ‘eComment’ in the far right column of the meeting you wish to participate, (You Will Be Redirected To The Specific Meeting Webpage); And (3) Register To ‘Sign In To Speak’ For Each Agenda Item(s) You Wish To Speak to. Please note that Electronic Speaker Card submissions closes twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting start time. *To Be Recognized To Speak Via ZOOM, Speaker Cards Must Be Submitted and Received Before The Submission deadline. • Once You Have Submitted Your Speaker Card - Your Zoom Profile Name Will Be Acknowledged To Speak When Public Comment Is Taken.When your name is called please raise your hand in zoom (By Pressing “*9”) and Unmute Your Self By Pressing *6. You Will Be Permitted To Speak During Your Turn. Instructions On How To “Raise Your Hand” Is Available At: Https://Support.Zoom.Us/Hc/En-Us/Articles/205566129 - Raise-Hand-In-Webinar. If you have any questions, please email the Agenda Management Unit at cityclerk@oaklandca.gov - Office of the City Clerk
- DEFINITION OF TERMS: • Action Item: shall mean any resolution, ordinance, public hearing, motion or recommendation requiring official vote and approval of the City Council to be effective. • Informational Item: shall mean an agenda item consisting only of an informational report that does not require or permit Council action. • Consent Item shall mean, for the purposes of the City Council agenda: 1) approval of Council minutes, and 2) any action or informational item placed on a Council agenda for a Regular Meeting or Special Meeting (i) as a Consent Item by the Rules and Legislation Committee, (ii) pursuant to Rule 28, or (iii) that a Standing Committee has forwarded to the full Council with unanimous recommendation for approval by the members who are present: Consent Item shall not include: 1) any item having a high level of public interest or controversy as determined by the Standing Committee Chair, or the Rules and Legislation Committee, or pursuant to Rule 28; 2) any item that requires a public hearing or that otherwise is ineligible by law as a Consent Item. • Non-Consent Item shall mean, for the purposes of a City Council agenda for a Regular Meeting or Special Meeting, any action or informational item that: 1) a Standing Committee has forwarded to the full Council without unanimous recommendation for approval; 2) has a high level of public interest or controversy as determined by a Standing Committee Chair, the Rules and Legislation Committee, or pursuant to Rule 28; or 3) requires a public hearing or is otherwise ineligible by law as a Consent Item.
- PAGE BREAK
- COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP:
- Roll Call / Call To Order
- Approval Of The Draft Minutes From The Committee Meeting Of September 30, 2024
- Determination Of Schedule Of Outstanding Committee Items
- Subject: State Of Education In Alameda County From: Councilmember Brown Recommendation: Receive An Informational Report From Alameda County Superintendent Alysse Castro On The State Of Education In Alameda County
- Subject: State Of Education In Oakland Unified School District From: Councilmember Brown Recommendation: Receive An Informational Report From Oakland Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Denise Saddler On The State Of Education In OUSD
- Subject: Tech Pathways In Oakland Unified School District From: Councilmember Brown Recommendation: Receive An Informational Report From Oakland Unified School District Computer Science Coordinator Sam Berg And Northeastern University Bridge To AI Director Alli Chagi-Starr On Tech Pathways In OUSD
- Subject: School Safety In Oakland Unified School District From: Councilmember Brown Recommendation: Receive An Informational Report From Oakland Unified School District Executive Director Of School Safety Nelson Alegria On School Safety In Oakland Unified School District
- Open Forum
- Adjournment
- In the event of a quorum of the City Council participates on this Committee, the meeting is noticed as a Special Meeting of the City Council; however no final City Council action can be taken.
- Americans With Disabilities Act If you need special assistance, including translation services to participate in Oakland City Council and Committee meetings please contact the Office of the City Clerk. When possible, please notify the City Clerk 5 days prior to the meeting so we can make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility. Also, in compliance with Oakland's policy for people with environmental illness or multiple chemical sensitivities, please refrain from wearing strongly scented products to meetings. Office of the City Clerk - Agenda Management Unit Phone: (510) 238-6406 Fax: (510) 238-6699 Recorded Agenda: (510) 238-2386 Telecommunications Relay Service: 711
- MATERIALS RELATED TO ITEMS ON THIS AGENDA SUBMITTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL AFTER DISTRIBUTION OF THE AGENDA PACKETS MAY BE VIEWED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK, 1 FRANK H. OGAWA PLAZA, 1ST AND 2ND FLOOR, OAKLAND, CA 94612 FROM 8:30 A.M. TO 5:00 P.M.
- The Oakland City Council Special Education Partnership Committee Convened At 3:31 P.M. With Councilmember Brown Presiding As Chairperson
- Councilmember Gallo Noted As Present At 3:34 P.M.
- The Following OUSD Board Members Were Noted Present: OUSD Board Members: Jeniffer Brouhard, President, District 2; Patrice Berry, Director, District 5; Mike Hutchinson, Director, District 4; Valarie Bachelor, Vice President, District 6
- Chair Brown Modified The Agenda To Hear Item 6 Before Item 5
- Councilmember Houston Noted As Excused At 5:15 P.M.
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