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FACILITY COMMITTEE MEETING
TUESDAY, January 10, 2006
12:00 Noon
1800 Oakdale Avenue, Conference Room B
San Francisco, CA 94124
- :
Acting Committee Chair, Commissioner Willie Kennedy called the Tuesday, January 10, 2006 Facility Committee meeting to order at 12:15 p.m.
- Roll Call:
Present: Commissioners Kennedy and Sampson
Staff Present: Toye Moses, Exec. Dir., SECFC;
Annette Price, Comm.-Sect.
Ernestine Braxton, Jr. Mgmt Asst.
- : Chair Willie Kennedy read the Sunshine Ordinance.
- (a) Dir. Moses reminded: At the last Facility meeting on 9/27/05, staff was directed to send letters of request to Superintendent Arlene Ackerman and Police Chief Heather Fong for assistance in resolving some of the security issues taking place with the Community Scholars of Success (CSOS) high school students. No response has been received thus far. However from conversations with CCSF, it has been proposed that another extension be given to CSOS pending response from both Ackerman and Fong.
Comm. Kennedy asked whether recommendations made at the last meeting (student name badges, uniformed security personnel, staggered class schedule) were followed through. Director Moses responded although there are now uniformed security personnel, they do not consistently wear uniforms.
During public comment, Mr. Francisco Da Costa requested the Committee involve the community rather than allowing police officials to dictate terms of conduct to students. Ms. Espanola Jackson stated several CSOS students have informed her that the disruptive behavior is in fact students who are outside the CSOS program. Comm. Sampson was curious as to why an additional meeting was scheduled without putting into place the previous recommendations, i.e., name badge & uniformed security personnel.
Commissioner Kennedy directed staff to send a letter to Mr. Lou Garret, CSOS principal requesting that he respond to those two issues immediately. Further, if Supt. Ackerman and Chief Fong do not respond to the request made, the issue will be presented to the community for resolution.
Dir. Moses asked that the Commission Secretary read the letters sent to Supt. Ackerman and Chief Fong. Ms. Jackson asked for clarification re: draft minutes of 9/27/05 with regard to the extension period of CSOS and staggered class schedule. Dir. Moses clarified that the prior extension period was to December 31st, 2005. Now an additional probationary period to June 2006 has been suggested.
Regarding the staggered class schedule, Dean Hunnicutt explained it was suggested that the CSOS program adjust student schedules to accommodate students in smaller classroom settings. Mr. John Nauer explained that students enrolled in the CSOS program are “students SFUSD does not want to deal with”. He suggested possibly designating a certain section of the college to CSOS students in order to prevent harassment by other students. He also stressed the importance of being aware that “home turf” issues must be addressed, not ignored as that plays a major role in how content a student feels attending school outside of his/her district.
Mr. Francisco Da Costa advised that staff also have available any incident reports that could attest to the student’s behavior. Mr. Da Costa stated he would address this subject with Mayor Newsom, Mr. Greg Shur, SFPUC, Alan Nance, MOCD, and the Board of Supervisors. Dean Veronica Hunnicutt assured Mr. Da Costa that all allegations made could be readily documented.
Dir. Moses interjected that the meeting scheduled with Ms. Jackson and other community residents was cancelled pending response from the Chief of Police and others. Once those responses are received, another meeting will be scheduled.
Action taken: (1) Extension of probationary period of Community Scholars of Success (CSOS) to June 2006 pending response from Superintendent Ackerman & Chief Fong. (2) Letter of request to CSOS principal Lou Garrett requiring his attendance at the next Facilities meeting to address name badge and uniformed security issues. (3) Letter to Gwen Chan, Interim Superintendent of School, SFUSD, requesting that the District work in conjunction with S.F. Juvenile Probation in the placement of district students to avoid “home turf” problems.
Community Care Licensing Issues at 100 Whitney Young Circle:
(b) Dir. Moses gave background that the two tenants involved with the licensing issue, who serve two different age groups, are Joshua Marie Cameron Academy (JMAC) and Whitney Young Child Development Center (WYCDC). He went on to state one of the main problems at the facility is the commingling of students.
Mr. Fred Blackwell, Mayor’s Office of Community Development, explained the Dept. of Children, Youth & Families has stated health and safety issues arise when mixing the two age groups together. Further, it is not just the commingling issue that is a problem but also the fact that children come into contact with the public as the public pass through the area adjacent to the playground.
Mr. Fred Blackwell stated the Mayor’s Office is ready to provide support to construct a fence, which would mitigate the playground issue. However regarding the licensing issue, MOCD has concluded that it will be very difficult to address it from a physical standpoint.
Ms. Mardi Lucich, Dept. of Youth & Families stated she has been working with Dr. Moses, Ms. Cynthia Williams, and licensing to resolve this issue. The concern is the interaction between the two groups that has caused Whitney Young to be placed on a provisional license. WYCDC is expected to correct this problem within one year or lose their license for both their current site and also the Masonic site. Ms. Lucich explained the facility is not conducive to constructing a physical barrier to prevent the two groups from interacting. The state says at no point can the older children or any community member cross paths with the young children while they are in program hours.
Ms. Michelle Daniels voiced concern of losing either program as she stated both programs are important. For clarification, Dir. Moses described the layout of the building. Ms. Lucich stated according to licensing, it is not just within the facility but also commingling when entering and exiting the facility. Ms. Doherty voiced concern over losing the license and having to close the Whitney Young Center.
Ms. Gloria Hampton, Director of JMAC gave background that JMAC is a program for students with special needs where behavior modification is used. JMAC contracts with the SFUSD for those students who need a smaller setting from grade levels 5th through 8th. There is also another JMAC location at the Bayview Plaza for older students. JMAC students use the kitchen auditorium on a daily basis from 12:30-12:40 during lunchtime and also maintain three other rooms.
Ms. Hampton questioned why the licensing issue recently came about, as the commingling issue never was at issue before. Ms. Hampton explained her understanding was that the auditorium was for community use. She questioned if the auditorium is to be used as a facility for the community where any age group can come and go, what impact will that have on WYCDC and the licensing issue. She also reminded that there have been problems with repasts taking place at the facility.
Ms. Cynthia Williams, Executive Director of WYCDC gave background that they provide a full-day childcare for preschool children of working parents, before and after school supervision of Kindergarten through 6th graders. She explained when the state came to do their initial compliance review, they heard disruption from some of the JMAC students and questioned whom the students were, which is how the commingling issue came about. However, Ms. Williams stated if JMAC came through the auditorium door and remained in the auditorium, there would be no contact with the children. Ms. Williams stated at stake is the loss of certification not only for Whitney Young but also the Masonic location, 225 childcare slots in San Francisco.
Mr. John Nauer suggested that an extension with a separation be built in the rear of the facility that would serve both populations. Ms. Jackson explained the facility was built initially as a school to teach mentally challenged students who could not function in other schools. Ms. Michelle Daniels suggested that this matter be worked out amongst the community.
Commissioner Kennedy asked for clarification on the layout and design of the facility and whether there was a deadline that the State has given. Ms. Lucich stated the deadline is October 2006.
Action taken: (1) item 4b was tabled until such time as suggestions introduced at the 1/10/06 Facilities Committee meeting be explored; (2) that tenants of the E.P. Mills facility (WYCDC & JMAC) sit down and work together to resolve the “commingling” issue; (3) that the next Facilities Committee meeting be scheduled in February 2006, 12:00 noon at the E. P. Mills Auditorium to better understanding the layout of the facility.
Mr. Fred Black, MOCD recommended that existing tenants look at some scheduling changes and possibly switching of rooms, which may be able to bring a solution to the situation.
(c) Revision of Earl P. Mills Auditorium Rules & Regulations: Referring to the calendar of events, Dir. Moses explained the auditorium is to be used for the community. Staff has received many complaints regarding the moratorium on social events and now there is the commingling issue with community room users and the children. He also reported the auditorium is being used as a recreation room by tenants for equipment storage, which has an impact on scheduled events.
Ms. Lucich stated her office has received complaints from the parents of children who attend Whitney Young. Those complaints were referred to licensing. Licensing investigated and concluded that the children were at risk, i.e., being exposed to drinking and smoking in the courtyard for which Whitney Young was cited.
Ms. Linda Burton, Whitney Young parent representative stated she had received complaints from parents and asked for some type of solution as to when repasts could be held. Ms. Daniels suggested that the drinking/smoking could easily be addressed by security. Ms. Williams interjected that the security guards are in fear for their own safety from some auditorium users.
Action taken: Revision of the Earl P. Mills Auditorium Rules & Regulations (moratorium on social events and holiday/weekend hours that must end by 6:00 p.m.) will be calendared at the February 2006 SECF Commission meeting, which will take place at the EP Mills Auditorium. Also, that the rules & regulations be enhanced and updated with strict language. The moratorium and time restriction on social events that must end by 6:00 will also be addressed at this meeting.
Ms. Jackson explained that Southeast cannot handle all the repasts in the community. Ms. Daniels voiced concern that weekend social events are restricted to ending by 6:00. Dir. Moses reminded years ago the Commission amended the rules & regulations requiring all social events to end by 6:00 p.m. due to complaints from neighboring homes. Commissioner Sampson stated not only should the rules and regulations be looked at but also the type of security that will be used, i.e., SFPD.
Commissioner Kennedy directed staff to notify community and surrounding neighbors of the meeting once it is scheduled. One of the issues that will be discussed is the moratorium and the time restriction on social events. Dir. Moses clarified that business meetings will continue to be held at EPM.
(d) Update of all the Childcare Center Leases under the jurisdiction of the SECF Commission: Dir. Moses referred the committee to the information packet containing copies of tenant leases and explained all leases have expired and are now month-to-month (MLK, Captain Shorey, Sojourn Truth, WYCDC, JMAC, Bayview Reparatory Theater). Dir. Moses requested that staff be directed to contact the real estate department to update all leases under the jurisdiction of the Commission.
Action taken: Staff was directed to work with the Real Estate Department in updating all childcare leases under the jurisdiction of the Southeast Community Facility Commission.
Public Comment:
There was no public comment at this time.
VI. Adjournment
Commissioner Kennedy adjourned the Facility Committee meeting at 2:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
________________________
Commission Secretary
