Oakland Public School teachers, nurses, social workers, psychiatrists, and other support staff have been striking since Thursday, Feb. 21. They are asking for reasonable wage increases, smaller class sizes, and the return of some very basic resources—like nurses and support staff for every school.
Oakland’s teachers have been working without a new contract for almost two years, all while the already unaffordable cost of living in the Bay Area continues to rise. The high cost of living has driven teachers and other professionals in the educational system out of the city, leading to a low retention rate (another reason why teachers are striking), creating something of a death spiral. Private schools and charter schools have also drained the public school coffers to the tune of $50 million. Add it all up, and Oakland's teachers have had enough.
On Thursday, teachers and school healthcare professionals held another rally in front of Oakland City Hall, with hundreds showing up.
Oakland public school nurses, who service both Oakland Unified (OUSD) as well as public and private charter schools while being paid less than hospital nurses spoke in solidarity with teachers, social workers, and others. Standing on the stage, the nurses pointed out that all 11 people in front of the crowd were public school nurses. According to the speaker, they make up one-half of all the nurses charged with providing health services to around 37,000 OUSD students—EVERY SINGLE DAY. “Our case loads are off the charts. Many of us visit four or five schools a day,” explained Sarah Nielsen Boyd to the crowd. “We spend most of our time looking for parking.” She wasn’t joking.
Right now OUSD has a 1,750 to1 ratio between students and nurses. Teachers and nurses would like that number to be more like 750 to 1. Nurses also want wages that come close to competing with hospital nurses. To put that into perspective, the starting salary for a registered nurse working in the Oakland Unified School District is around $47,000. According to The Nursing Education Career Guide, a registered nurse in Oakland, not working for a school, can make (on the low end) $75,380, with the high end representing some of the best salaries competing with nurses all over the country. “Why would a RN looking for a job take a position with the district, when she or he can make double working in a hospital?” said Boyd.
California legislators need to open up their purse strings and make this happen. Our children’s futures are at stake.