Later, we approached each of the three school districts looking for a solution. The Oakley school districts were sympathetic and supportive of our idea, which was not new. However, the real movement started when I attended the Antioch school board meeting. The plight of our school children attracted a reporter from the Ledger Dispatch, who followed me around later that week as I picked up my daughters from schools in Antioch. Her published article gave our cause some much-needed publicity.

The article was followed by a call from Senator Torlakson's office stating that he would be moderating a meeting with me, the three Superintendents and representatives from the County. At the first meeting, Antioch's new superintendent announced that it was time for Oakley's children to go to Oakley schools. Other meetings followed where the financial impact on each school district and ways to mitigate the lost income or additional burden were discussed. The districts worked with lobbyists, seeking state dollars to help ease the financial impact of changing the school district boundaries.

Unfortunately the change was dependent on State dollars. The economy worsened and the idea of all of Oakley's children in Oakley schools suffered with it.

While various attempts have been made to change the boundaries of the school districts, these efforts have been unsuccessful because of the complicated and complex funding mechanisms for the districts. Much of the area west of Empire Ave. in Oakley is part of a Mello Roos District (a special financing entity) that helps fund the Antioch schools and it is financially impractical to separate this area out of the Mello Roos District.

Unable to change boundaries the next alternative was to have a grade school in Oakley. In October of 2007, Orchard Park Elementary, the first and only kindergarten-through-eighth-grade school in the Antioch Unified School District held its dedication ceremony. Orchard Park School is within the Antioch Unified School District and serves students from both Antioch and Oakley. During the 2008-2009 school year, Orchard Park will serve students in Kindergarten through 5th Grade. In subsequent years, the school will grow a grade level a year until it serves Kindergarten through 8th grade. In addition, Orchard Park School has an extended day Kindergarten program.