Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) is dedicated to creating a green, equitable student environment and being a forefront leader in climate justice. View the Sustainability Team’s past and current initiatives that have been established to address climate-related topics and connect this work to the District’s core values.
In October 2020, OUSD took a monumental first step by passing the Climate Emergency Resolution (CEAR). This resolution acknowledged the climate emergency and established two ambitious goals:
To achieve 100 percent clean electricity by 2030.
To phase out the use of fossil fuels by 2040.
It also called for establishing a District Staff Task Force and a Community Sustainability Advisory Council to collaborate with the Sustainability Team to develop a comprehensive Sustainability Policy and Implementation Plan led by the OUSD Energy and Sustainability Manager.
The Sustainability Policy (the Policy) aims to provide overarching direction for the Sustainability Implementation Plan (the Plan), create objectives aligned with the goals identified by the CEAR, and develop additional goals around culture, energy efficiency, waste prevention, water resilience, facilities, purchasing, transportation, nutrition and food systems, curriculum integration, and sustainability funding.
Developing the Policy - Anticipated Sustainability Planning & Engagement Process
The journey to shape the Policy began with the establishment of the governance structure, mission, and vision of the Sustainability Advisory Council (SAC) and the District Staff Task Force. The SAC was officially established in March 2021 following extensive recruitment efforts.
Step One: Data Gathering
Comprehensive data-gathering efforts were an essential first step in crafting the Policy. The District Staff Task Force and SAC diligently assessed existing sustainability initiatives across the District, which established a baseline for policy development. Historical timelines were constructed, and data on energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions were collected.
Through this baseline effort, the Sustainability Team captured all previously passed sustainability or efficiency-related initiatives by the Board to ensure the draft Policy was built on previously accomplished work. The summaries and document links for these previously passed initiatives can be found in the Initiative Library.
Once the data-gathering process was completed, the Sustainability Team, SAC, and District Staff Task Force collaborated to develop preliminary draft Policy goals for culture, energy efficiency, waste reduction, water resilience, facilities, purchasing, transportation, nutrition and food systems, curriculum integration, and sustainability funding.
Step Two: Feedback Gathering
Feedback from various constituent groups, including the Facilities Planning Management Division, the Board of Education, the Facilities Committee, the OUSD Legal Team, additional District department leadership, students, and community members, was actively sought and incorporated into a preliminary draft Policy.
Step Three: Inform Around the Policy
Beginning in mid-2023, the Sustainability Team emphasized refining draft Policy goals. This involved conducting thorough research on peer institutions, consulting subject matter experts, analyzing costs, and assessing the assumptions that would begin the outline for the draft Plan. The objective was to ensure the draft Policy goals reflected best practices and accounted for financial considerations. The Sustainability Team led this process in collaboration with the District Staff Task Force.
Step Four: Consult the Community
After refining the draft Policy goals based on research from peer institutions, reviews by subject matter experts, and cost analysis, the Sustainability Team will gather a second round of community feedback. This information will be collected through community workshops hosted by the Sustainability Team and town hall meetings hosted by the Board.
Sign up for our mailing list to automatically receive updates on Policy and Plan progress, notifications, and reminders about these events.
Once all community feedback is evaluated and the Policy is refined further, the Sustainability Team and District Staff Task Force will prepare the Policy for Board approval.
Following the Policy's approval by the Board, the Sustainability Team will begin drafting the Sustainability Implementation Plan (the Plan). The Plan will translate the Policy’s objectives and goals into more specific implementation tactics. It will encompass all sustainability goals, objectives, strategies, tactics, implementation timelines, funding considerations, and more, providing a centralized resource for all related initiatives within OUSD.
Led by the OUSD Energy & Sustainability Manager, the SAC, which will be put on hold as the Policy is prepared for Board approval, will be re-engaged with the District Staff Task Force to collaborate on the Plan and regularly propose updates. These updates, informed by ongoing assessments and developments, will be presented to the Board for formal approval every two years. This iterative process ensures that OUSD remains responsive to evolving sustainability challenges and opportunities while fostering accountability and transparency in our commitment to environmental stewardship.
How You Can Help
The Sustainability Team recognizes the importance of community awareness and feedback in developing the sustainability Policy and Plan. Please refer to the engagement process map above to view the varying opportunities for community members to get involved. If interested in any of the events, please sign up for our mailing list. By signing up, you will automatically receive notification of opportunities for community input. Additionally, visit our Community Collaboration page to learn more about getting involved!
