Oakland school<\/a> police officers cleared out a dozen protesters early Tuesday who were camping in a closed elementary\u00a0school.<\/p>\n The group of parents and activists had been sleeping at Lakeview Elementary School<\/a> at 746 Grand Ave. since June 15 to protest the district’s decision to close the\u00a0school.<\/p>\n District police officers entered the school across from the Grand Lake Theater<\/a> about 4 a.m. and told the activists they would be arrested if they did not leave, said Troy Flint<\/a>, a school district spokesman. All but two protesters packed up their belongings and\u00a0departed.<\/p>\n The remaining two asked to be arrested, Flint said. They were cited and\u00a0released.<\/p>\n Citing budget problems and declining enrollment, the school board voted in October to close five elementary schools in Oakland: Lakeview, Santa Fe, Marshall, Maxwell Park and Lazear. Parents have been fighting to save the schools ever\u00a0since.<\/p>\n Flint said school officials had been unable to reason with the\u00a0protesters.<\/p>\n “We didn’t act immediately because we didn’t want it to turn into a law enforcement event,” he said. “We do have to get prepared for the next school year, and there are plans for that\u00a0facility.”<\/p>\n Flint said the school will house the district’s family services\u00a0unit.<\/p>\n Jack Gerson<\/a>, a retired Oakland teacher who was involved with the protest, said the group would continue to fight the proposed closure. Closing schools will hurt Oakland students, Gerson\u00a0said.<\/p>\n Activists had held group discussions on their vision of the school’s future, Gerson\u00a0said.<\/p>\n “We’re going to continue across the street for at least the next week,” he said. “We think (the community) stands for what is needed – not closing down\u00a0schools.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Will Kane SF Chronicle, Tuesday, July 3, 2012 Oakland school police officers cleared out a dozen protesters early Tuesday who were camping in a closed elementary\u00a0school. The group of parents and activists had been sleeping at Lakeview Elementary School at … Continue reading