Community members speak out

Many community members are starting to speak out about the the possible closure of Tilden. Here's one heartfelt letter we received this week from one such individual:

Oakland needs Tilden School. For decades, it has been a flagship school within Oakland Unified, always leading the way in setting up innovative programs serving students with an incredible array of learning needs. It is a unique and invaluable community resource.

Although the programs developed at Tilden can and should be replicated on a smaller scale at sites throughout Oakland Unified, Tilden itself should remain intact. Oakland needs a school where the community is willing to explore new ways to effectively educate students with varying learning styles, providing rich and rigorous educational programs tailored to the needs of individual students.

Tilden is that school.

There is nothing else like it in Oakland and likely nothing else like it anywhere in the country. The Oakland community needs to do all it can to keep Tilden afloat and allow it to navigate the challenging water of finding new and better ways to reach each and every student.

The stated reasons for closing Tilden (a minimally maintained forested rambling campus, too many special needs preschoolers, too many special education students, and not enough general education students) are problems that can be addressed. It is possible to fix the facility and balance the student population, allowing Tilden to continue its mission, while simultaneously developing programs modeled on Tilden programs at other campuses throughout OUSD.

If Oakland loses Tilden, it loses one of the best things that OUSD has ever provided for the community it serves.

Another Friend of Tilden