In the summer of 2009, Oakland Unified School District (“OUSD”, “the District”) was returned to local governance after six years of State control, with Dr. Tony Smith as its new Superintendent. Despite fiscal challenges, the administration embarked on a year of listening sessions, followed by a yearlong collaborative planning effort that culminated in a shared strategic vision for the District. In the summer and fall of 2011, OUSD began a restructuring process. The goal was to “expand quality and release resources” and included the possibility of closing, consolidating, or reconfiguring a subset of the District’s schools. As a result the Board approved a number of schools for closure and consolidation on October 26, 2011, including five elementary schools. As in other cities, the decision was contentious.