Parents, students hold rally to reopen Oakland Unified schools

ByAndrew Morris KGO logo
Monday, March 1, 2021
Parents, students hold rally to reopen Oakland Unified schools
Oakland parents say they want to get their students back into the classroom. The Oakland Unified School District presented a reopening plan last week, but the Oakland Teachers Union says it falls short of including proper COVID-19 safety measures.

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Oakland parents, students and community members put together a rally on Sunday afternoon, demanding that the Oakland Unified School District reach a deal to reopen for in-person classes.

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"Our kids have been out of school for a year now," said parent, David Castillo. "We believe it's time for them to be back in. It's safe now."

The rally was held at Astro Park, off of Lakeshore Avenue, next to Lake Merritt.

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Other parents at the rally told ABC7 News that distance learning is hurting their children, and they just want to have the option of sending their kids back to class.

The Oakland Unified School District recently put out its latest plan to get Pre-K through fifth grades back in school by late March. The Oakland Educators' Association teachers' union says the plan does not address all of the safety measures needed.

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