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MINUTES OF THE
SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY FACILITY COMMISSION
MEETING WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2008 – 6:00 PM
ALEX L. PITCHER, JR. COMMUNITY ROOM,1800 OAKDALE AVENUE
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124
1.0 CALL TO ORDER
Commission President Willie B. Kennedy called the Wednesday, September 24, 2008 meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. in the Alex L. Pitcher Community Room at 1800 Oakdale Avenue .
1.1 ROLL CALL
6:07 p.m. Commission Secretary – Carla Vaughn
Commissioners Present: Kennedy, Jones, Brown, Sampson and Churchwell
Commissioners Excused: Chung and Yang
Staff Present: Toye Moses, Executive Director
Joseph Singh, Management Assistant
Carla Vaughn, Commission Secretary
1.2 SUNSHINE ORDINANCE ANNOUNCEMENT
AND CONSENT CALENDAR
Commission President Willie B. Kennedy welcomed all present and announced the Sunshine Ordinance and the Consent Calendar.
Commissioner Jones moved to accept the consent calendar. Commissioner Brown seconded the motion.
2.0 PUBLIC COMMENT
Mr. Sam Murray of the Public Utilities Commission addressed the Commission regarding their interest in having the group responsible for the digesters provide a presentation to the Commission and commended Commissioner Sampson for spearheading an event that recognized local/community heroes.
3.0 COMMUNICATIONS
Carla Vaughn, Commission Secretary announced the following:
a) Press Release: “Mayor Newsom Visits Future Site Of Local Biodiesel Facility.”
b) Press Release: “Mayor Newsom Announces Expansion Of Free Wi-Fi In The Tenderloin.”
c) Press Release: “Mayor Newsom Unveils Architectural Designs For New Domestic Terminal At San Francisco International Airport”.
d) Press Release: “Mayor Newsom At The National Press Club: “We’re Halfway There”, announces that San Francisco has enrolled 30,000 residents into the city’s groundbreaking Healthy San Francisco universal health care program.”
e) An Invitation from Mayor Newsom, Phyllis Lyon and the family of Del Martin to commemorate and celebrate the life of Del Martin on Wednesday, October 1, 2008 at the City Hall Rotunda.
f) Flyer from BayView Hunters Point Adult Day Health Center requesting participation from the community with their “Extreme Makeover” scheduled for October 17, 18, and 19.
g) Notice From The City Attorney’s Office Regarding Appropriate Political Activity By City Officers And Employees.
4.0 PRESENTATION
Chair Kennedy introduced Mr. Carlos Garcia, Superintendent of Schools, SF Unified School District.
Superintendent Garcia addressed the Commission regarding his promise of a New Strategic Plan he made during his previous visit a year ago. He reported the plan was called “Beyond The Talk” and would address issues that are critical in this city. Mr. Garcia quoted the following: “The San Francisco Unified School District sees the achievement gap as the greatest social justice/civil rights issue facing our country today. There cannot be justice for all without closing this gap.” Mr. Garcia stated the surface had not been scratched in relation to this issue. He advised the Commission the issue had been made an educational issue rather than a civil rights issue. He noted it was time to elevate the issue to the point of saying it is a civil rights issue and to begin addressing issues that people sometimes feel uncomfortable addressing, such as race.
Mr. Garcia said three major goals were:
1) Access And Equity (Make social justice a reality)
2) Student Achievement (Engage high achieving and joyful learners)
3) Accountability (Keep our promises to students and families)
Superintendent Garcia introduced the Balanced Scorecard, a strategic management system created by the district to guide the work of the district over the next five years. Mr. Garcia reported the plan would hold each and every individual in our schools and community accountable for creating the best outcomes for children.
Mr. Garcia reported that along with the Balanced Scorecard a second dimension of school performance measurement known as the School Quality, Equity and Access Matrix would assist families, school sites and district policy-makers in exploring important differences among the district’s schools and help determine why some groups of students perform better on standardized tests and graduate from high school more prepared to pursue college and careers of choice than other groups of students.
Mr. Garcia introduced Mr. Hoover Liddell, special assistant to the Superintendent of the San Francisco Unified School District who addressed the Commission regarding the Dream Schools.
Mr. Liddell acknowledged Commissioner Louise C. Jones, former principal of George Washington Carver for sixteen years, a distinguished San Francisco Elementary School three times, highest in California, located in the Southeast district. Mr. Liddell noted the schools were more resegregated than before.
Mr. Liddell reported there was not an algebra teacher for a whole year at the Willie Brown Academy. He stated the year before at Gloria R. Davis there was not a math teacher. He expressed concerns regarding the need to attract quality teachers to the district. Mr. Liddell introduced new programs being put forth by the school district.
The first new program EPGY (The Education Program for Gifted Youth) is being offered at the Willie Brown Academy. The Education Program for Gifted Youth (EPGY) is through Stanford University and is dedicated to providing and developing multimedia instruction through individualized educational lessons. This program is designed for students in a Kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12) mathematical course. EPGY allows students to proceed at their own pace with instruction designed to handle individual differences in student learning. Students work problems online and the computer keeps track of the student’s strengths and weaknesses and requires students to do more work in their weakest areas.
EPGY’s most recent studies find that the program is most effective for a minimum of 100 minutes a week in various ways that schools are able to provide for scheduling. The mathematics course is designed to provide a rigorous foundation in elementary mathematics.
The second new program introduced by Mr. Liddell is Project SEED, a nation-wide program in which professional mathematicians and scientists from major universities, research corporations, and the community teach abstract, conceptually oriented mathematics to full-size classes of elementary students. This supplements their regular mathematics program through the use of a Socratic group discovery format in which students discover mathematical concepts by answering a sequence of questions posed by the SEED instructor. This is done while the regular teacher is present, who will then incorporate the discovery techniques into his/her own teaching. The SEED curriculum emphasizes number sense, algebraic concepts, patterns, critical thinking, and problem solving.
Last but not least Mr. Liddell introduced the Algebra Project. This is an experiential approach to teaching and learning algebra developed by Robert Moses. The program works to use ways that base the learning of mathematics on experiences that all the students have. It helps students move the mathematics they see in an experience to mathematical concepts in their minds.
Superintendent Garcia advised the mentality must be changed to effectively serve the children. He continued stating children can learn algebra but we need to teach it in a way they can learn it.
Commissioner Jones thanked Superintendent Garcia and Mr. Liddell for the presentation and had questions regarding the issue of the schools not having nurses.
Mr. Garcia stated that realistically there would never be enough money to provide everything the schools needed. He advised the school district would be approaching city departments and suggested the Department of Public Health could partner with the district to help communities.
Commissioner Jones’ second question had to do with the achievement gap, and specifically what was being done to improve reading for African-American students.
Superintendent Garcia advised the literacy project that would be taking place over the next few years should train teachers to be reading specialist and he had discussed this issue with the Dean at Stanford University. Mr. Garcia noted that across the country all the teacher prep programs offer at least one course on reading to future teachers, and the course is not on how to teach reading, it’s on selecting materials for reading. Mr. Garcia advised that is not what is needed.
He stated that elementary teachers needed to know how to teach reading. Mr. Garcia advised the district was going to set up their own program to train teachers how to teach reading.
Commissioner Brown noted that truancy and tardiness were also problems. She stated when first and second graders were reaching school at 10 am instead of 8 am this was another issue preventing them from acquiring the lessons. She advised most formal math classes were over by 10 or 10:30 and this was another reason for substandard achievement.
Mr. Garcia stated the school district should provide a written guarantee to parents that their children will be educated and they will be successful, but they have to help by making sure the children are in class on time.
Commissioner Brown thanked Superintendent Garcia for his commitment to the children of San Francisco and referred to an article in the paper regarding truancy and our youngest children. She asked if the parents could be help accountable.
Superintendent Garcia advised the District Attorney was working on that very matter because what the parents are doing is illegal. He said at the beginning of the school year a packet went to the parents with a notice from the DA’s office advising them their children had to be in school or they could face prosecution.
Chair Kennedy stated she felt the solution was parent and teacher because some of the students would go to school and may know the subject but are never called upon by the teacher to perform or to answer any questions.
Chair Kennedy advised sometimes children are labeled educationally handicapped and they become disillusioned with the classroom and the school. She noted a child would say, "Why should I go to school when I’m not allowed to participate?" Chair Kennedy said that problem should be solved with the teachers.
Regarding the stereotyping of children based on their zip codes Chair Kennedy pointed out it was the principal and teachers at certain schools that were stereotyping children and the district needed to look into the issue, beginning with the principal and teachers. She noted the way a child is treated in the classroom determines whether or not their desire to receive an education will continue to be a positive experience.
Mr. James Calloway a substitute teacher in the SFUSD thanked the Commission for inviting Superintendent Garcia to the community and had questions regarding the achievement gap and wanted to know if there was a way to identify students that were failing.
Mr. Calloway noted when schools closed or transferred to new locations students would fall through the cracks. Mr. Calloway stated he would like to see more thinking “Outside The Box” with regard to dealing with students that were missing school.
Mr. Sam Murray of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission had comments
regarding problems in the school district. He remarked children are advised to go to
college yet there are many colleges within the Bay Area that students never have a
chance to look at. Mr. Murray had a question regarding the number of teachers
employed by the San Francisco Unified School District who send their own children
to private schools because they don’t trust the outcome of their education through the
SFUSD.
Mr. Murray felt there needed to be a change in the sports system in the City so
parents would have the opportunity to support their children at the games.
Mr. Liddell announced the Black Historical College Fair would be at City College on
October 30th.
Mr. Leon Mohammed thanked the many mentors present for providing guidance to
him throughout his formative years. He requested a breakdown from the schools of
students relocated due to the diminishing population of Blacks in the Bay View.
Mr. Liddell acknowledged the diminishing Black population and advised he had
worked with the Mayor on the out-migration of Blacks from San Francisco. He noted
the out-migration of school age children last year was around 6,800. Mr. Liddell
stated there were 25,000 Black students when he came to the district in 1970.
Ms. Sheryl Perkins of the San Francisco Unified School District said the sporting
events were held early so the students wouldn’t have to travel by public transportation
late in the evening.
Mr. Ross Rhodes, parent and community organizer for the 100% College Prep Club,
spoke in support of the Algebra Project. He advised his children really benefited from
the program.
Ms. Gisele Lintz, parent liaison from Dr. George Washington Carver Elementary
School spoke in agreement with Superintendent Garcia. Ms. Lintz also requested
support in sending the entire 5th grade class to Washington D.C.
Mr. Emmanual Stewart, a teacher from Dr. George Washington Carver Elementary School, and a parent stated there was bias downtown towards children living in the 94124 area. He requested the Superintendent look into the matter. He noted his own son was unable to attend school in San Francisco Unified School District and the situation created a hardship for the family.
Mr. Stewart said the Superintendent was going to have a hard time convincing everyone on staff to really help the children in this district. Mr. Stewart confirmed that some teachers do treat children in a biased way.
Commissioner Kennedy thanked all of the participants and said she was concerned regarding the neglect of the African-American children not only by the schools but by some parents as well who were uneducated and did not value education for their children.
Commissioner Kennedy introduced Stephen Proud, Lennar Corporation Project Manager.
Mr. Proud introduced Wells Lawson of the Mayor’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development who provided background regarding where the Alice Griffith Housing Project sits in the scope of the integrated Hunter’s Point Shipyard/Candlestick Point Project.
Mr. Lawson reported that in May 2007 the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors endorsed the conceptual framework, a series of principles which said the Alice Griffith Project must be rebuilt with new housing units for those residents who currently live in Alice Griffith without displacing them.
Mr. Lawson said the following June voters overwhelmingly supported Prop G taking the principles further. The overall project, urban design plan, transportation plan, infrastructure planning, as well as the community benefits piece, and affordable housing piece is on-going and building should begin in the fall of 2009. One of the principles of the project is to make sure all types of housing are available to people at a range of income levels.
Mr. Lawson introduced Craig Adelman, Deputy Director of the Mayor’s Office of Housing, who spoke regarding the possibilities of the Alice Griffith Project being a part of the Hope SF program.
Mr. Stephen Proud closed the presentation with a handout showing the development area, land use, and distinct character areas as they exist today.
Commissioner Jones had questions regarding the definition of affordable housing.
Mr. Adelman responded stating another measure of affordable housing was based on available funding and current market rate.
Commissioner Sampson and Commissioner Churchwell echoed Commissioner Jones’ concerns.
Commissioner Brown had concerns regarding the relocation of residents.
Mr. Adelman advised the Alice Griffith area would be one of the first pieces of the project as entitlements to build are provided. He said the basic infrastructure would begin in early 2011. Mr. Adelman told the Commission it would probably be 2013 before residents would move in.
Mr. Proud stated the 2009 date was referencing the Hunter’s View project.
Commission Chair Kennedy thanked Mr. Proud for the presentation.
5.0 COMMUNITY OUT-REACH COMMITTEE REPORT
Commissioner Sampson provided a summary of the Community Out-Reach Committee meeting held on August 13th. The Committee discussed boosting attendance and addressing topics of interest for the community.
The committee introduced an action plan consisting of three critical steps as follows:
1. Better networking with community based organizations.
2. Updating the SECFC website to provide information from community leaders and tracking how many people view the website on a daily basis.
3. Have the city attorney provide information regarding what restrictions, if any, apply to the agency regarding the production of signage.
Commissioner Sampson reported the next Community Outreach Ad-Hoc meeting would take place on Wednesday, October 15.
6.0 STAFF REPORT
Joseph Singh, Management Assistant provided an update on the ADA project, which is near completion. Mr. Singh reminded the Commissioners of the need to reschedule the November 26 commission meeting due to the Thanksgiving Holiday. In closing he advised the 09/10 budget preparation and scheduling was on-going.
Carla Vaughn, Commission Secretary provided an update regarding presenters scheduled for upcoming commission meetings. She reported communicating with Debra Lucero, assistant to Chris Iglesias, Director of the Human Rights Commission. However, there has not been a date set for his presentation to address the questions the Commission has regarding Prop 209 as it relates to the BayView Community.
Ms. Vaughn advised the Commission that Edward Reskin, Director of the Department of Public Works would appear in October or November.
7.0 OLD ON-GOING BUSINESS
Commissioner Jones reported the Health and Housing Ad-Hoc Committee would meet on October 14th at 12 noon.
9.0 ANNOUNCEMENTS
None.
10 ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted
Carla Vaughn, Commission Secretary
