July 9th, 2007: Assemblymember Swanson joins other area elected officials for the announcement of return of some School Board Governing Authority to the Oakland Unified School District by the State. Mr. Swanson was extremely pleased that State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell and the School Board entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to return Community Relations and Governance to the District. The agreement represents an important first step in the process of returning greater participation and responsibility to the School Board, parents, and the community overall for decisions affecting Oakland’s children. Shown in this picture are, on left: Edgar Rakestraw, Jr., District Secretary and Executive Officer of the Board of Education; and Gregory Hodge, Oakland School Board Member; standing in back are Pat Kernighan, Oakland City Council Member; Courtney Ruby, City of Oakland Auditor; Noel Gallo, Oakland School Board Member; and Alice Spearman, Oakland School Board Vice President; standing in front are Jean Quan, Oakland City Council President Pro Tempore; Wilma Chan, former 16th Assembly District representative; and Assemblywoman Loni Hancock, 14th Assembly District; seated are David Kakishiba, Oakland School Board President; Jack O’Connell, State Superintendent of Public Instruction; and Dr. Kimberly Statham, State Administrator; at right are Assemblymember Sandré Swanson; and Ronald Dellums, Mayor of Oakland.

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