With unprecedented budget woes, the state broke, and the city broke-- what can the new superintendent do to fix Oakland public schools?

In 2003, the state of California took over the struggling Oakland school district after giving it the biggest California school district bailout ($100 million) in at least 20 years. Last month, after years of working to mend these financial issues, control of the schools was finally handed back to the district. Control definitely does not come cheap; the district still owes the state of California $80 million, and will be paying it off in annual increments of $6 million. Into this financial crisis, enters a newly appointed superintendent, Tony Smith.

Smith played offensive lineman as an undergraduate at the University of California, Berkeley, but now the new head administrator of the Oakland Unified school district is in the position of a community quarterback. Smith’s task as the new superintendent is to aid the great comeback of a lackluster school district, which itself is located in the troubled city of Oakland within the financially struggling state of California. All of this is compounded by a 6-year-long tug-of-war over control of the school system between the city and the state.

Put two minutes on the clock and let Smith know that the state championship is on the line. That’s the type of pressure assuming the title of superintendent has brought with it, but Smith has a game plan. He is bringing together a mixed huddle of community institutions and individuals alike; his theory is simple- if the city of Oakland helps Oakland schools, then the products of Oakland schools (the educated students) will help the city of Oakland. Smith says, “The school itself is a hub of community, and done well, it’s a place of welcoming, a place where people feel happy- connected, joyful -- where real learning is happening, both for children and adults, and it’s a place of transformation, a place of growth in a city …”.

Oakland public schools face the same educational disparities as other public schools in major US cities. They deal with racism, classism, and unequal treatment of those who use English as a second language.

“We have to fundamentally change that system, and I don’t think we can change it by changing schools; we have to change relationships in the community, with community members, with other agencies…,” Smith says.

So far Smith's intentions sound good, but what remains to be seen is how much of these good intentions will result in real change for Oakland schools. Will his game plan better Oakland public schools--or will the state have to intercept control once again? We'll just have to wait and see.