Oakland Schools Suit Against State Is Futile

The Oakland school board is suing State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell for raiding the district’s accounts and giving $450,000 to charter schools. O’Connell is a big charter schools backer and has received oodles of campaign cash over the years from wealthy charter school supporters. The state supe thought it was unfair that Oakland voters turned down a ballot measure last fall that would have raised money for charter schools. O’Connell appears to be clearly in the wrong here – if he didn’t like the outcome of an election, then he should sponsor another measure. But the school board’s suit isn’t likely to go anywhere.