Redwood Heights Neighborhood News

by Denise Davila

Neighborhood Responds to OUSD School Assignments (a Statement by the RHNA Board of Directors) The Redwood Heights Neighborhood Association (RHNA) advocates for 1,400 households in Redwood Heights neighborhood of Oakland and stands with Redwood Heights School Parent Teacher Association and Dads' Club in urging the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) to accept the children of Redwood Heights neighborhood families into Redwood Heights School for the 2007-08 school year. More than 20 children within school boundaries were denied admittance to Redwood Heights School. This is a grave loss not only to the children and their families, but also to the neighborhood, school, and, significantly, OUSD. These families support the community, but many do not plan to send their children to OUSD schools outside of Redwood Heights neighborhood. Instead, they will turn to private schools or simply move out of Oakland, abandoning the community and eliminating revenue for OUSD completely. It is a no-win situation. Over the past 18 months, the RHNA teamed with neighborhood parents to demand that OUSD disclose how the newly implemented Options program would be implemented in Redwood Heights School boundaries. OUSD officials repeatedly stated that all neighborhood families would be accommodated at their neighborhood school. Under the "Organic Growth" model, OUSD schools would expand or contract to meet the needs of the neighborhoods they serve. Imagine the dismay when our neighborhood families learned via post that OUSD rejected their children for admission to Redwood Heights, but reassigned them to other public schools in the city. Many families move to Redwood Heights neighborhood for access to RH School. They become involved in the community long before their children start school because they understand that strong community support makes for a strong local school. The Redwood Heights Neighborhood Association urges OUSD officials and School Council members to sit down with Redwood Heights School representatives, neighborhood parents, and RHNA board members to create a solution that meets the needs of all parties. Ed. note: Since this article was submitted, OUSD has promised that all of the displaced neighborhood children will have a spot at Redwood Heights School in the fall. RH Earth Day in Four Ways Join fellow neighbors and get green in Redwood Heights on Earth Day, Saturday, April 21, from 9 a.m. to noon. The city will provide commemorative Earth Day T-shirts and some extra tools for volunteers to use in beautifying the neighborhood. Avenue Terrace Park (Jordan Park) When the little ones tire of cleaning, they can play in the sand while the parents continue to tidy up the park. Call Anna Katz at 482-5839. McCrea Park Help fellow residents clean up our neighborhood casting ponds and park, adjacent to the entrance to Highway 13 and Carson Street. E-mail Chris Burgardt at chris\@burgardt.net. RH Recreation Center and School Area Pitch in for the special projects planned for this focal point of the neighborhood. E-mail Randy at Randy\@sundancelandscape.com. Peralta Creek Be a part of the creek restoration effort at the site of the Native Environment Watershed Transformation (NEWT) project on Rettig Avenue at Wisconsin. Call Denise at 531-3930. Redwood Heights Picnic RHNA partners with the RHS Dads to present the Redwood Heights Picnic on Saturday, May 5, at 4 p.m. Listen to a live band and enjoy hamburgers, hot dogs, veggie options, salads, and more. Everyone in the community is welcome. Advanced ticket purchases are appreciated. Tickets are $5 per person. Call Mark Collins, at 530-7746, or Ferdinand Ramos, at 530-1287.