'We can't do it alone': A conversation with Oakland Unified's first director of safety

"Seven weeks into the new school year, The Oaklandside sat down with Alegria to hear how he's trying to reshape the district's approach to school safety. He said he and his team are fielding mental health calls, training staff on how to interact with immigration enforcement, and meeting with the city's department of violence prevention to strengthen its partnerships with the city's high schools."

"For decades, the district had its own police department whose officers patrolled school campuses. Campaigns to get rid of the department began in earnest in 2011, after a school officer shot and killed 20-year-old Raheim Brown near Skyline High School. Those efforts culminated in June 2020, when the OUSD board unanimously adopted the George Floyd Resolution, which committed the district to disbanding its police department and reimagining its approach to school safety - in a way that doesn't involve police."

Nelson Alegria leads Oakland Unified's safety strategy as the district shifts away from campus policing toward a restorative, relationship-centered model. He prioritizes mental health response, staff training on interactions with immigration enforcement, and collaboration with the city's violence prevention department and high schools. The district previously maintained its own police force, and campaigns after a 2011 killing led to the June 2020 George Floyd Resolution to disband the police department. Security staff have been rebranded as culture and climate keepers focused on trustworthy relationships, restorative justice over punishment, and expanded mental and behavioral health staffing. Community violence continues to affect campuses.

Read at The Oaklandside