My mom served on Marin school boards for over 10 years while I was growing up.

The vitriol the SFUSD Board has received over changing the Lowell admissions process is bringing back some rough memories. Here’s a thread.

The biggest controversy during my mom’s career on the school board was over a popular outdoor education program called Team.

The district had gotten money to start the program years prior, and it was supposed to be spent on low income Black and brown students.

Somehow, the program had evolved over time, and by the time I was in high school admissions were based on GPA.

For years, the program had been filled with a super majority of white students, like the rest of the district.

My mom wasn’t okay with this. She thought it was critical that we either restructure admissions for the program to make sure it was actually serving low income Black and brown students or that we abolish it all together and create a new program for that demographic.

The (white) community was absolutely furious.

Dozens of people showed up at school board meetings to yell at my mom and her colleagues. They called our home. They tried to ostracize my mom from her social circles.

This was one of the few times growing up that I saw my mom cry.

I was only 16 at the time. Still, I got harassed by some of my teachers over this.

My photo teacher called me out in front of our 40+ student class to ask why my mom was prioritizing the “1% of students who were struggling” over the “99% who were doing just fine”.

I don’t remember the outcome of the final vote. I don’t even remember all of the details of the debate — I may have some wrong.

But I do remember the mobs of angry *racist* parents who claimed their objections “weren’t about race”.

My mom used to have aspirations to serve her community by running for higher office, but this experience on the school board dissuaded her.

She still does incredible work in our community, but she’s not an elected official.

I’m disgusted by the rhetoric I’ve seen about the Lowell admissions debate this week, directed at both the Black Student Union and our school board members.

I’m especially disgusted by the journalists’ I’ve seen propping up the narrative pushed by these racist parents.

The SFUSD Board members who voted to open up Lowell admissions to a lottery system won’t be rewarded for it.

Like my mom, I’m sure many of them have cried over this. I’m sure their kids have been harassed. I’m sure it’ll be the end of some of their careers in public office.

Thank you @marksanchezsf, @AliMCollins, @lopez4schools, @FaauugaMoliga, and @mattalexandersf for remaining strong!

The Board made the right decision on Lowell admissions tonight. https://twitter.com/lihanlihan/status/1359382291580002304

I’m allowing y’all two more insufferable comments on this thread about my experience as a literal child before I hit “mute this conversation”.

I don’t care to hear why you don’t think you’re racist.