The Green Party of Alameda County is pleased to inform you that we have endorsed Sasha Ritzie-Hernandez for the November 7 special election for Oakland School Board, District 5. This is a critical election as currently the School Board is split 3 to 3 between progressives and conservatives, so please DO help out with the campaign. Immediately below is our “Green Voter Guide” article about the race and beneath that is info on how to volunteer and donate — to help elect Sasha!
See you on the campaign!,
Green Party of Alameda County
Oakland School Board, District 5
(Special November 7, 2023 election)
Sasha Ritzie-Hernandez
After the final result last year in District 4, where Mike Hutchinson (formerly representing District 5, before the change in district boundaries) was declared winner, the Oakland school board was deadlocked 3 to 3 around selecting a successor or going to a special election. The latter thus became necessary and reflects the importance of this election to break this divide.
This recommendation will be somewhat shorter than many other such articles because there are are only two candidates. Also, the person we’re recommending has submitted one of the most thorough responses to our questionnaire we’ve ever received, so this article will only touch on some key issues, when much more could be said.
Ms. Ritzie-Hernandez is an alumna of the Oakland schools and graduated to being a family engagement specialist, becoming a Senior Parent Organizer at Bay Area PLAN, a key group defending public education and opposing privatizers, such as GO Oakland Schools. She is currently Coalition Coordinator for the Bay Area Coalition for Education Justice.
She champions equitable resource allocation, culturally responsive curriculum and targeted support for marginalized communities. To promote better district communication, she advocates for regular town meetings and collaborative workshops. reflecting her priorities of student success, equity and community engagement.
She acknowledges the issues around declining student enrollment and educator recruitment, but highlights a strategic need for community engagement and shared decision making. Thus, as is always the case, budgets must reflect priorities. She realizes this can also require consultation with the county superintendent.
She is aware of the importance of the $66 million+ coming to the Oakland Unified School District for ‘community schools’, which can improve student services, enlarging facilities and implementing innovative programs. This will involve shared decision making and greater community partnerships.
She opposes school closures and supports maintaining district property. While acknowledging some complexity around co-location of public and charter schools, she supports a moratorium for ANY new charters and a reduction in the charter student population.
She favors redirecting resources to school sites, away from central administration, including teacher professional development, student support services, and building maintenance.
She certainly advocates for class size reduction and believes it is an issue that can be part of contract negotiations. She understands that dealing with the unions is also linked to community involvement.
There is much more she comments on but this gives a sense of Ms Ritzie-Hernandez vision, which to put in mildly, is most comprehensive (including restricting corporate funding of elections).
She is endorsed by a wide range of organizations, including the OEA, SEIU 1021, the Alameda Labor Council, East Bay DSA, Latino Task Force, the three progressive members of the Oakland School Board, and more. She supports increased vocational programs and increased electives.
While Jorge Lerma is not as onerous as some of the previous corporate candidates (he is a former site administrator, former OEA member and well know in the Latino/ Fruitvale community), his supporters give you a good view of his politics. These include former candidate Nick Resnick (pro charter and backed by GO Public Schools), old guard politicians including former mayor Libby Schaff, Noel Gallo and David Kakishiba (both of whom agreed with school closures), the rapidly rightward moving Oakland NAACP, and much of the entrenched Democratic Party apparatus.
The three more conservative school board members (including sadly, the rogue and opportunist/ careerist Mike Hutchinson) are backing Lerma and it is safe to say a vote for him, is a vote for further school closures.
While our support for Ms Ritzie-Hernandez is based overwhelmingly on her positive views and experience and not as a “stop the opponent view” we sometimes have taken, who Lerma’s backers are say enough to vindicate our choice. Vote for Sasha Ritzie-Hernandez.
Volunteer and Donate to Help Elect Sasha!
Please volunteer here: https://www.sasharitziehernandez.com/get-involved
Please donate here: https://www.sasharitziehernandez.com/donate
Thank you so very much!
The Green Party of Alameda County 
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