By David Washburn, July 1, 2019
Legions of California educators have been trained in recent years in restorative justice, which is no longer considered an obscure alternative to traditional school discipline. Yet even in districts with well-established programs, finding and keeping funding for it remains a challenge.
Earlier this year, for example, the Oakland Unified School District board approved a package of austere budget cuts that appeared to have dismantled the district’s program, which was established more than a decade ago.
Although funds for the program have been restored, at least for now, its possible termination came as a shock to its many backers.
“I have lost all faith or trust in this board right now,” said a tearful Yota Omosowho, the board’s student member, amid cries of disbelief from students and others in the audience.
As districts have worked to reduce suspensions and expulsions, they’ve increasingly turned to restorative justice, which focuses less on punishment and more on righting wrongs and building healthy relationships within the school. It usually involves convening circles in classrooms or other school milieus that focus either on establishing bonds among students or addressing conflicts.
In the months that followed the school board’s action in Oakland, others in the community stepped up — most notably the city of Oakland, which gave a one-time $690,000 grant to the district to keep the program going for the 2019-20 school year. Foundations and philanthropists have also pledged support, said David Yusem, Oakland Unified’s restorative justice coordinator.
The city and community support means that the program will continue and a significant number of the 30 or so staff members whose positions were cut will have the opportunity to be reinstated for the 2019-20 school year.
Yusem, however, acknowledged there are no guarantees beyond next year. “We need to make adjustments based on the current fiscal reality,” he said.
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