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The San Francisco school board is now discussing whether to replace academically elite Lowell High School’s merit-based admissions process with a random lottery.
Student delegates Shavonne Hines-Foster and Kathya Correa Almanza are reading the resolution out loud.
@SFUnified
Student delegates Shavonne Hines-Foster and Kathya Correa Almanza are reading the resolution out loud.
@SFUnified
I'll live-tweet the conversation and subsequent vote tonight. It's likely it'll still be a few hours until a decision is made.
Public comment is beginning.
One hour total.
Those in support of the resolution are up first and have 30 minutes to speak. That will be followed by 30 minutes for those in opposition to speak.
One hour total.
Those in support of the resolution are up first and have 30 minutes to speak. That will be followed by 30 minutes for those in opposition to speak.
Virginia Marshall, president of the San Francisco Alliance of Black School Educators has called in, urging the school board to pass the resolution and make Lowell a "regular, comprehensive high school."
"If not now, when? If not you, who?"
"If not now, when? If not you, who?"
People are asking where they can listen! You can follow along here: https://sfusd.zoom.us/j/81633763530?pwd=T1JqZmpDZ0xZbXEzVVNraEhJMHM2UT09#success
Rev. Dr. Amos C. Brown just finished speaking. (He went significantly over the allotted time for public comment).
"We're already behind, we've got to run faster and catch up," he said.
"We're already behind, we've got to run faster and catch up," he said.
The San Francisco Berniecrats support the resolution:
"We believe the time is long overdue. ...To the officers of the Black Student Union in support of this resolution—we see you. We support you. ...Justice delayed is justice denied."
"We believe the time is long overdue. ...To the officers of the Black Student Union in support of this resolution—we see you. We support you. ...Justice delayed is justice denied."
Disclaimer. I won't be able to capture every comment. But I'm doing my best to transcribe what's happening as it happens.
Parent Rionda Batiste speaks in support of the resolution:
"Our babies have expressed the harm that they have faced. It's time for us as adults to take swift action."
"Our babies have expressed the harm that they have faced. It's time for us as adults to take swift action."
Caller Joe Truss, a Lowell alum:
"The time of elitist, classist, racist policies is over. The world is watching and we need to be leading this work."
"The time of elitist, classist, racist policies is over. The world is watching and we need to be leading this work."
Caller from the NAACP asks for more consideration, specifically about the admissions portion of the resolution.
"The NAACP supports all 23 articles in the resolution. However, we do think more work needs to be done in terms of vetting and adopting a sensible admissions policy."
"The NAACP supports all 23 articles in the resolution. However, we do think more work needs to be done in terms of vetting and adopting a sensible admissions policy."
Similarly, Josephine Zhao from the Chinese American Democratic Club supports most of the resolution but asks for more time for community input about the proposed admissions process change.
(She was told to call back during the "con" section of public comment).
(She was told to call back during the "con" section of public comment).
Shakirah Simley, director of the SF Office of Racial Equity:
"You should be looking at this district-wide and making sure more work is done in all schools to center this ... to defeat white supremacy culture throughout the entire school district."
"You should be looking at this district-wide and making sure more work is done in all schools to center this ... to defeat white supremacy culture throughout the entire school district."
Caller Bivett Brackett:
"I am going to make it my personal point to ensure that you guys [the commissioners] pass it. You will be held accountable for trying to change this resolution at any time tonight."
"I am going to make it my personal point to ensure that you guys [the commissioners] pass it. You will be held accountable for trying to change this resolution at any time tonight."
That was a fast 30 minutes!
We are now entering the 30 minutes of public comment where those who oppose the resolution get to speak.
We are now entering the 30 minutes of public comment where those who oppose the resolution get to speak.
Caller Mikhail Kazantsev:
“While I can certainly understand the importance of this issue, but by ramming the nuclear option through… you may be putting on a bandaid ... I urge you to not just take the easy way out by treating the symptom.”
“While I can certainly understand the importance of this issue, but by ramming the nuclear option through… you may be putting on a bandaid ... I urge you to not just take the easy way out by treating the symptom.”
Caller Nance Yuan:
"For years Lowell has benefitted disadvantaged students who need a more accelerated learning environment but don't have the means to go to private schools..."
"Let's continue to build and improve Lowell, not destroy it."
"For years Lowell has benefitted disadvantaged students who need a more accelerated learning environment but don't have the means to go to private schools..."
"Let's continue to build and improve Lowell, not destroy it."
Caller Lisa Moye:
"Before Lowell, I was bullied for being a nerd ... I had no generational advantage. My poor middle school-educated parents did not even understand English."
"Racism is unacceptable. You should never kill a goose that lays golden eggs."
"Before Lowell, I was bullied for being a nerd ... I had no generational advantage. My poor middle school-educated parents did not even understand English."
"Racism is unacceptable. You should never kill a goose that lays golden eggs."
Caller Victor Seeto:
He does not dispute Lowell's culture issues. "The district yearly conducts a Culture/Climate survey," he says, noting that Sense of Belonging is very low at Lowell.
"However, I support Rev. Brown's call to have a collaborate system."
He does not dispute Lowell's culture issues. "The district yearly conducts a Culture/Climate survey," he says, noting that Sense of Belonging is very low at Lowell.
"However, I support Rev. Brown's call to have a collaborate system."
On this note, @HereSayMedia published a story today on culture and demographic issues across SFUSD’s high schools. https://heresaymedia.org/san-francisco-lowell-high-school-culture-problems-sfusd-admission/
Caller Caldwell Kinoshita:
"The board has already passed a resolution making it a lottery system next year. We should wait and see..."
"The board has already passed a resolution making it a lottery system next year. We should wait and see..."
Caller Seeyew Mo:
Supports the NAACP proposal to postpone and engage the community.
"We urge the board to allow for more time and expert input to examine admissions policies at Lowell High School."
Supports the NAACP proposal to postpone and engage the community.
"We urge the board to allow for more time and expert input to examine admissions policies at Lowell High School."
Caller Eugene Mcgrane, a Lowell grad:
"You have to fix it at the elementary school level. And if you're not interested in doing that, you're not interested in fixing the problem."
"You have to fix it at the elementary school level. And if you're not interested in doing that, you're not interested in fixing the problem."
Hayden Miller, current Lowell student:
"I don't think that changing to a lottery system, which the BOE is actually going to be phasing out for elementary schools, is necessarily the correct solution. I think we should wait a year and see how it goes. Let's wait and see."
"I don't think that changing to a lottery system, which the BOE is actually going to be phasing out for elementary schools, is necessarily the correct solution. I think we should wait a year and see how it goes. Let's wait and see."
Caller Josephine Zhao:
"We would like to do this process properly, like how we did [with] the middle school design. I would highly encourage that we send this over to committee for a better process."
"We would like to do this process properly, like how we did [with] the middle school design. I would highly encourage that we send this over to committee for a better process."
Christine Linnenbach, Lowell grad.
"I support a large majority of the resolution. I do want to ask, however, that you wait a year and see how the lottery goes."
She also quotes something a teacher once said: 'The process is the product.'
And she adds, "This process is rushed."
"I support a large majority of the resolution. I do want to ask, however, that you wait a year and see how the lottery goes."
She also quotes something a teacher once said: 'The process is the product.'
And she adds, "This process is rushed."
Bayard Fong:
Also supports Rev. Brown's suggestion to delay for more community input and analysis.
"We learned that when we work in coalitions, we can get things right. Let's not rush this through."
Also supports Rev. Brown's suggestion to delay for more community input and analysis.
"We learned that when we work in coalitions, we can get things right. Let's not rush this through."
David Budd:
"The solution is a hammer looking for a nail to hit. If you want to fix the problem here, high school is not the place to do it."
"This BOE is failing the students of the school. It's not Lowell, it's not the parents, it's you."
"The solution is a hammer looking for a nail to hit. If you want to fix the problem here, high school is not the place to do it."
"This BOE is failing the students of the school. It's not Lowell, it's not the parents, it's you."
Caller Jorge:
"I would say in this time of COVID, when everybody, regardless of race, color, or creed is disenfranchised and disconnected, we need all voices to weigh in on this and come to a solution."
"I would say in this time of COVID, when everybody, regardless of race, color, or creed is disenfranchised and disconnected, we need all voices to weigh in on this and come to a solution."
Caller Natasha Litt:
"Without Lowell, I'd be a statistic."
"I was mocked and bullied for being different."
"The fix for this is not to throw out standards."
"We can find ways to crush racism at Lowell by keeping the bar high."
"Without Lowell, I'd be a statistic."
"I was mocked and bullied for being different."
"The fix for this is not to throw out standards."
"We can find ways to crush racism at Lowell by keeping the bar high."
A caller points out that some commissioners don't even have their cameras on.
"This board isn't even listening to you. The commissioners can't even be bothered to watch."
[Commissioners Lopez, Lam, Sanchez and Moliga do have their cameras on, others appear not to.]
"This board isn't even listening to you. The commissioners can't even be bothered to watch."
[Commissioners Lopez, Lam, Sanchez and Moliga do have their cameras on, others appear not to.]
Public comment has now ended.
Note: Some cameras are off because it assists the ASL interpreters, according to Superintendent Matthews.
Note: Some cameras are off because it assists the ASL interpreters, according to Superintendent Matthews.
The board has asked Gregory Vincent, Executive Director of the Civil Rights and Education Initiative, to help facilitate the upcoming discussion.
Vincent notes that he himself attended Bronx Science in NYC (a specialized HS) so he understands both sides of this debate.
Vincent notes that he himself attended Bronx Science in NYC (a specialized HS) so he understands both sides of this debate.
Student delegate Kathya Correa Almanza speaks passionately in support of the resolution:
"What are you protecting right now? Who are you protecting right now? Is it the school? What about it? A school is nothing without the people."
"What are you protecting right now? Who are you protecting right now? Is it the school? What about it? A school is nothing without the people."
Student delegate Kathya Correa Almanza makes a direct jab at City Attorney Dennis Herrera and the lawsuit filed against the SFUSD. Herrera is quoted as having said, "So far they [the school board] have earned an F. Having a plan to make a plan doesn’t cut it.”
In clipping the previous moment, I missed the public comment from Shavonne Hines-Foster. I apologize.
Commissioner Kevine Boggess advocates for a delay.
"I feel it's important we are inclusive of the struggles Black students are facing across the district."
"I feel it's important we are inclusive of the struggles Black students are facing across the district."
Commissioner @AliMCollins emphasizes that this resolution is about Lowell specifically because it has unique culture issues.
"This is an ongoing issue that is specific to Lowell."
We wrote about this very question today over at @HereSayMedia https://heresaymedia.org/san-francisco-lowell-high-school-culture-problems-sfusd-admission/
"This is an ongoing issue that is specific to Lowell."
We wrote about this very question today over at @HereSayMedia https://heresaymedia.org/san-francisco-lowell-high-school-culture-problems-sfusd-admission/
Student delegate Shavonne Hines-Foster weighs in on why she sees Lowell's culture as uniquely toxic.
"No one's trying to say racism isn't at SFUSD schools. But the boiling point is over at our school. So let's address it now."
"No one's trying to say racism isn't at SFUSD schools. But the boiling point is over at our school. So let's address it now."
The SFUSD collects data on this very question.
Its annual Culture/Climate survey tracks how SF’s students of various demographics perceive the schools that they attend.
Requests for comment from the school board on this survey and were not returned on Monday or Tuesday.
Its annual Culture/Climate survey tracks how SF’s students of various demographics perceive the schools that they attend.
Requests for comment from the school board on this survey and were not returned on Monday or Tuesday.
Just a note that this meeting has now been going to five hours.
After this discussion, the school board still needs to discuss school reopening (and various other agenda items).
Agenda here: https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/sfusd/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=BW6NY5613C6B
After this discussion, the school board still needs to discuss school reopening (and various other agenda items).
Agenda here: https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/sfusd/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=BW6NY5613C6B
Rev. Dr. Amos Brown, president of the San Francisco branch of the NAACP, supports the resolution BUT proposes to address the question of admissions later to give the community more time for input. @NAACP_SF
"Support it with a proviso," he concludes.
"Support it with a proviso," he concludes.
Facilitator Gregory Vincent has jumped in with some advice (he's on Central time and 2 hours ahead of us here in SF)
"I do think you have to be sensitive to 'wait, wait, wait.' I think you have to be thoughtful and careful about this."
"I do think you have to be sensitive to 'wait, wait, wait.' I think you have to be thoughtful and careful about this."
As pointed out by @jilltucker, various community members are now speaking during discussion & presenting their opinions (in support of the resolution).
They are NOT answering questions.
How is this fair? How were these folks chosen?
@SFUnified
They are NOT answering questions.
How is this fair? How were these folks chosen?
@SFUnified
. @lopez4schools has jumped in to say that these community members are here to advise and answer questions. However, that's not how it's currently playing out.
They are not answering questions but rather offering their opinions on why they support the resolution.
They are not answering questions but rather offering their opinions on why they support the resolution.
Commissioner @FaauugaMoliga says he will be voting 'Yes' on the resolution to change Lowell's admissions process to a lottery system.
Commissioner @marksanchezsf is also voting 'Yes.'
Commissioner @mattalexandersf is also voting 'Yes.'
