This upcoming fall is an important time for students to participate in America’s democratic process. For only the second time, students ages 16 and 17 are allowed to vote in the OUSD school board election this November.
The OUSD school board is made up of seven representatives from each of Oakland’s voting districts, with two elected student representatives . This year, districts 2, 4, and 6 are holding elections. You must reside within the district limits in order to vote for the candidates running for that district. Although Oakland Tech resides in district 1, students from the listed districts can vote in the election.
This is a major opportunity for students. The school board has the responsibility of ensuring access to good, equitable education for their students. School board members represent and advocate for the people that live and go to school in their districts. It is important to vote and elect members who will enact policies improving education. Students are directly affected by the decisions the school board makes. Following the murder of George Floyd, the George Floyd Resolution was passed, replacing school police with culture keepers focused on restorative justice resulting from student protests in 2020. Just this year, OUSD implemented a district wide phone ban to increase academic focus and improve student mental health. Student’s votes will directly affect the future of their schools and education.
This year, the school board is expected to tackle a number of issues. One of the most important is balancing the OUSD budget and fixing the looming deficit. They will decide where to make cuts to programs and attempt to lay off staff that will have the least effect on schools. The board will also hire a new Superintendent, a position currently held by Denise Saddler, whose contract is up in June 2027.
Attendance and enrollment have been decreasing since 2018, taking money away from the district. It is their responsibility to end the decline and raise the attendance numbers again. The school board will need to have conversations about the future of technology in classrooms, following the most recent cell phone ban. And of course, the overall safety and academic success of students will remain a top priority. By voting for candidates who will enact policies regarding these issues, you are helping determine the future of schools in your community.
How to vote
The election will take place on November 3rd, and polls will close that same day at 8pm. Students can do “same-day registration”, meaning you register in person at a voting center. These centers will open on Oct 28th, and remain open until election day. You will receive your ballot in the mail, and you can take it to one of the many drop boxes spread throughout Oakland.
Other options include dropping your ballot at a polling place, which 20 of them will open on Oct 31st, with the exception of six opening on Oct 23rd. These voting centers will be open from 9am to 5pm. On election day (Nov 3rd), the centers will be open from 7am to 8pm.
In district 2, the incumbent Jennifer Brouhard is running against OUSD parent Arielle Fleisher. Brouhard was elected to the board in 2022, and a few months later Brouhard and the newly elected candidates protested to reverse the district’s plan to close five schools. In spring of 2025, Brouhard became the board president, after superintendent Johnson – Trammell’s contract was mutually agreed to end early. Brouhard and Vice-President Valarie Bachelor received major backlash after they implemented a resolution to cut contract spending, leaving students without the after care programs they needed. Likewise, under Brouhard’s leadership, the board has approved a budget cutting tens of millions of dollars, along with an additional $30 million this fall.
Brouhard told the Oaklandside, “I think it’s time to do an evaluation of all the different things we offer and all of the programs we’re paying for … I don’t know how effective they are and we really need to have a way to assess them.”
In district 4, incumbent Mike Hutchinson is running against Kathryn Camp, and Sylvia Williams.
In district 6, board Vice-President Valarie Bachelor is running against parent LeAna Powell and teacher Alexandra Williams. Bachelor believes in order to balance the budget, the district should prioritize cutting central office administrators and outside vendor contracts. Closing schools risks adding to budget issues by causing families to leave the district. In terms of repurposing vacant OUSD sites, the district should support other organizations utilizing those spaces to support the community.
Brouhard and Bachelor both play a major role in the school board. Since both their positions are up for reelection, the board’s future is unknown. The board could face a complete change in leadership this fall, and these new elected members could change policies and bring a new vision to the board. Students have a part to play in deciding the future of this board and its decisions, so voting in this election is extremely important. Go vote!