New OUSD interim superintendent greets families at several campuses on 1st day of classes

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Monday is the first day of the school year for Oakland Unified and new leaders were greeting many of the excited students and parents arriving on campus.

ABC7 News got to tour the Martin Luther King Junior Elementary campus with interim Superintendent Dr. Denise Sadler.

She started in her new role on July 1, so this was the first time she's kicked off a new school year in this new position.

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It's one of nine schools she's visiting Monday. She was joined by members of the school board and city council member Carol Fife.

In her new role Dr. Sadler said her biggest challenge is fiscal stability and working on staying solvent.

When asked about more school closures and consolidations, she didn't get into specifics but did say the district may have to make some hard decisions to accomplish its goals.

"We have to see what we have to do, and we don't know what that looks like, but it means that we really have to be clear on the why, clear on what our goals are, and that's something I really want to do in concert with our community," Dr. Sadler said.

The district has also been dealing with problems with lead in the water.

Officials said that about 17% of water sources that were tested exceeded safety levels. The district said they identified the problem and are working towards a solution.

Dr. Sadler, whose contract is for at least year, says they are laser focused on infrastructure changes.