Oakland — In an era of tight budgets, Oakland Unified School District will have to remain financially “slim” as it grapples with trying to fund programs ranging from special ed and computer science to mental health counseling, academies and dual language programs, according to the new homegrown Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell.

“The hardest part of my job is there are things I’m going to have to say ‘no’ to when you think about what we’re funded at and it’s embarrassing compared to other states,” Johnson-Trammell said Tuesday at a news conference — her first — 13 days before the start of the new school year.

Johnson-Trammell didn’t offer any immediate answers to hot-button questions about issues such as potential future school closures, but said that she would be doing a lot of listening before committing to any course of action.

“There are trade-offs and conversations we’re going to have to have around these issues,” she said.

Johnson-Trammell, who had served as interim deputy superintendent of academic and social emotional learning since February, was named to lead the district in July. She succeeded Antwan Wilson who left in January after two years to take on the post of chancellor for Washington D.C. schools.

Johnson-Trammell has worn many hats during her more than 18 years working for the district. She was an elementary school teacher and principal; middle school assistant principal; district director of talent development; associate superintendent for leadership, curriculum and instruction; and elementary network superintendent.

In her new role, Johnson-Trammell said she plans to spend the next four years focusing on strengthening the finances of OUSD and making sure every student has access to a neighborhood school. She said she would also make it a priority to stabilize the staff by exploring ways to retain talented teachers and principals who often have short tenures in their assigned schools.

Johnson-Trammell said she wants to insure that all students have access to a quality education, which has been a challenge within the district going way back.

“I listened to a speech by (former school superintendent) Marcus Foster,” she said. “If he were here today he could have given that same speech around equity.”

Unlike her predecessor, Johnson-Trammell has deep Oakland roots. She is a third-generation Oaklander, born and raised in East Oakland, who attended public school at Montclair Elementary and Montera Middle schools in the hills.

In part because she hails from Oakland, she said many people want her to promise that she will never leave, which she said she can’t do.

“I love Oakland and I’ve been here (OUSD) for 18 years,” Johnson-Trammell said. “But it’s a very challenging job. .. my success is our success and we have to work together.”