On Saturday, February 27, the District held a Public Meeting to provide the community with information about the construction of The Center: Central Kitchen, Instructional Farm and Education Center. Below are the updates OUSD shared:

Construction Update, February 26
Our February 26 newsletter offers an update on the Construction activity expected at The Center over the next few weeks.  You can read the update here.

For more information, please read our Construction FAQ:
• English
• Spanish

Peralta Colleges radio station KGPC recently covered the latest construction at The Center site: 
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"On Tuesday morning, a bulldozer continued to demolish a school that was shut down by the state in 2004. But while demolitions often foretell upcoming condos, this lot has something better in store..."

Read and listen to the full story here!

Our January 29 newsletter offers an update on the construction activity expected at The Center over the next few weeks. You can read the update here.

"An ambitious plan by the Oakland Unified School District to build a $40 million central kitchen, instructional farm and education center at the corner of 29th and West streets in West Oakland will transform how school meals are made throughout Oakland.

One of the first of its kind in the nation, the 48,000 square-foot center will provide learning opportunities in the culinary arts and agricultural instruction, and help urban school kids learn where their fruits and vegetables come from and how food is prepared."

​Read the entire piece here!

Join us at McClymonds High School (2607 Myrtle St.) on Saturday, January 30 from 10 AM to 1 PM for an Oakland Unified School District Job Fair! The District is hiring for a range of positions, including Food Services, Custodial Services, and Construction jobs. Click here for more information. 

Oakland North recently published a story detailing the efforts and vision of The Center.

From the article: “We will be dramatically improving the meals that we’re serving to our students by eliminating 80 percent of the pre-packaged food,” said Jennifer LeBarre, the executive director of food services for the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD). “It will also become an education destination for students from across the district, from everything from field trips to linked learning opportunities.”

Read the piece here!

At the December 2 OUSD Board of Education meeting, Lance Jackson, Interim Chief of Facilities, provided an update on the proposed design of The Center. The update was a follow-up to the Board's November 4 vote to approve The Center's CEQA environmental impact study, and the Superintendent's request to investigate the possibility of improving the facade aesthetics in response to feedback from community members. 

The design update pictured above reflects changes to the facade and project aesthetic, informed by input from the October 30 and November 19 Community Engagement Advisory Committee (CEAC) meetings. The proposed changes include:
• A softening of the exterior color and facade treatment
• Installation of mural art which can be periodically updated
• Installation of a large window at street level along 29th Street where the baker space will be located in the kitchen
• Placement of a living green wall (e.g., panels of the chayote vine grown vertically) on the 29th Street facade