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Teachers and students press Oakdale board to preserve after‑school theater program and address pay and special‑education support
Summary
Dozens of staff, parents and students urged the Oakdale Joint Unified School District board to retain the after‑school drama program, seek Prop 28 and contract funding for a stipend for directors, and address teacher pay and shrinking special‑education supports during a lengthy public‑comment block.
Dozens of parents, students and district staff used the board’s public‑comment period to press trustees to preserve Oakdale High School’s after‑school theater program and to raise long‑running concerns about teacher pay and staffing for special education.
Charles James, a special‑education teacher with 27 years in the district, described steep reductions in in‑class support and paraprofessional hours. “Currently, my site has one resource teacher supported by only two three‑hour aides,” James said, saying the district once provided multiple full‑time aides and a $500 materials stipend that has since disappeared. He urged the board to restore support for students and staff.
Students and parents focused on a separate but related change: the administration’s plan to convert theater from an after‑school club into a two‑period, in‑day class next year. Student speaker Tegan Outlam said the change would bar many participants who already fill schedules with advanced coursework. “As a 4.4 GPA student enrolled in four AP classes next year, I have no availability in my schedule to fit a drama class,” she said, adding that a district survey showed many current participants would be unable to continue.
Several students described theater as a place of belonging and mental‑health support, and parents said after‑school scheduling preserves access for students with heavy academic commitments. John Malcolm, speaking as a parent, framed the issue as a labor and funding question tied to current contract negotiations: “We are asking that the drama club labor be funded in a manner which will ensure its accessibility after school,” he said.
Speakers suggested potential funding options, including using Proposition 28 arts funding and negotiating a stipend for directors so productions can remain extracurricular and inclusive. Parent Rachel Merchant noted that after‑school programs align with the district’s Local Control and Accountability Plan goals for student engagement and enrichment.
Board members did not adopt a program‑level change during the meeting; public comment ended with a request that the board consider funding and contract solutions during ongoing negotiations.
Context and next steps: Several speakers tied their appeals to the district’s larger bargaining talks and to the board’s budget priorities. Trustees will consider staffing and contract matters during ongoing negotiations and future agenda items; no policy or program change was approved at this meeting.
