Oakland schools chief imposes hiring freeze, spending limits

Oakland schools Superintendent Antwan Wilson bypassed the school board and imposed a hiring freeze and spending limits, saying he has the authority and obligation to oversee the district’s $500 million budget.

The school board, however, was expected to take up a measure authorizing immediate action to curtail spending Wednesday night, but the item was pulled from the school board’s agenda during the public meeting.

Wilson said that he implemented a “spending protocol” to help offset a projected shortfall of about $30 million next year based on a spending plan that exceeds projected revenue.

During Wednesday’s meeting, Wilson outlined a comprehensive budget plan to cut spending by up to $11 million this year through the hiring and spending limits and another $20 million next year through cuts to central administration and at school sites.

In addition to declining enrollment, an expected loss of at least some federal funding under the Trump administration and a smaller increase in state funding will contribute to the district’s woes, he said.