School Board Notes 1.24.06
School Board Notes
1.24.06
By Nicole Achs Freeling
GreatSchools.net Correspondent
Outgoing Superintendent Arlene Ackerman addressed the public at what will be her last board meeting before leaving the district February 1. Gwen Chan, who was named interim Superintendent, will assume leadership of the district while it undertakes a search process for a new chief executive. Ackerman is headed to New York's Columbia University where she has accepted a professorship teaching school district management.
"Though I have known defeat, I leave knowing I left the district better than I found it," Ackerman said. Commissioner Jill Wynn's voice broke as she thanked Ackerman for her service. "Six years ago, it seemed impossible that we could not only get out of the financial hole we were in, but have a district founded on integrity, honesty and (operating) for the right reasons. Having served through the previous administration, it seems miraculous to me."
Many of the speakers said her departure would create a lack of African-American leadership at the district. "Your leadership style has been called autocratic," Reverend Roland Gordon told Ackerman. "The bottom line is, you got the job done."
Earlier in the day, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a resolution urging Ackerman to forgo her controversial $375,00 severance package. Several speakers at the BOE meeting took umbrage at the Supervisors' suggestion, saying she had earned the money with the work she had done for the district. NAACP leader Amos Brown pointed out that the departing UC Chancellor received a $350,000 severance and hadn't been asked to give that back.
Prop H Spending Plan Adopted
The board approved the spending plan for next year's Proposition H funds put forth by a Community Advisory Committee, with the caveat that several of the Council's suggestions would be tentative pending salary negotiations with the teachers union and other bargaining units. The board adopted unconditionally a plan for more elementary school librarians and more per-pupil funding for art and sports. It tentatively adopted a plan that would bring over $1 million to high school Site Councils for violence prevention programs, art teachers and additional education support staff. Educational support staff includes nurses, counselors and social workers.
Proposition H, which voters approved in 2004, allocates millions for schools with a third going to free preschools, a third going to SLAM programs, and a third that can be spent essentially at the discretion of the school district. The district will receive $13.4 million in Prop H funds for 2006/07 school year. Of that, $3.3 million will go to maintain existing programs already begun through Prop H. An additional $1.1 was taken from the 06/07 budget for use this year, in order to fill in cuts that had been made to the Weighted Student Formula.
District employee groups have suggested that the discretionary portion of the funds, the so-called third third, could be a possible source of funds for salary and benefit increases. Union employees have not received a cost of living raise in over three years and have threatened to strike if their new contract doesn't include adequate wage increases.
The Prop H funds will be allocated as follows:
Elementary Schools: SLAM Funds (definite):
Speakers also expressed concern about the possibility of using the Prop H funds for salary increases. Community Advisory Committee members said they had found little or no support from the public for using the funds for this purpose. Teachers union representatives, however, urged the board to keep its options open. "I thank (the committee) for giving of themselves," said Linda Plack, vice president of United Educators of San Francisco. "That is what we do every day."
Proposals Address School Closure Process
With rancor still fresh with regard to the recent round of school closings and mergers, commissioners and community members discussed continuing concerns about the process.
District 5 Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi told the board he had submitted two resolutions to the Board of Supervisors calling on the district to change the process. One called for the creation of a blue ribbon task force charged with developing both short- and long-range plans for dealing with school consolidation. The task force would include representatives from the Mayor's office, the Board of Supervisors and the Board of Education. The other resolution urged the BOE to revisit its decision to merge John Swett into John Muir. He criticized the decision as "myopic," saying John Swett was 81 percent occupied, had decent test scores and was highly diverse.
In response to criticism that public input on school closure decisions was inadequate, Commissioners Mark Sanchez, Norman Yee and Sarah Lipson submitted a resolution to create a Community Advisory Council that would help craft a long-term plan for addressing enrollment declines. The Committee would gather public input regarding school closings and mergers, while working to address the problem of under-enrollment at some schools and over-enrollment at others. The Council would consult with PTAs and School Site Councils at potentially affected schools and study the placement of enrichment and community programs within the district. Speakers cheered the proposal and the move toward more community involvement. As it was a first reading, no action was taken on the proposal.
Email comments to sfschoolnotes@greatschools.net
1.24.06
By Nicole Achs Freeling
GreatSchools.net Correspondent
- Ackerman Bids Farewell, Chan to Take Helm
- Prop H Spending Plan Adopted
- Proposals Address School Closure Process
Outgoing Superintendent Arlene Ackerman addressed the public at what will be her last board meeting before leaving the district February 1. Gwen Chan, who was named interim Superintendent, will assume leadership of the district while it undertakes a search process for a new chief executive. Ackerman is headed to New York's Columbia University where she has accepted a professorship teaching school district management.
"Though I have known defeat, I leave knowing I left the district better than I found it," Ackerman said. Commissioner Jill Wynn's voice broke as she thanked Ackerman for her service. "Six years ago, it seemed impossible that we could not only get out of the financial hole we were in, but have a district founded on integrity, honesty and (operating) for the right reasons. Having served through the previous administration, it seems miraculous to me."
Many of the speakers said her departure would create a lack of African-American leadership at the district. "Your leadership style has been called autocratic," Reverend Roland Gordon told Ackerman. "The bottom line is, you got the job done."
Earlier in the day, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a resolution urging Ackerman to forgo her controversial $375,00 severance package. Several speakers at the BOE meeting took umbrage at the Supervisors' suggestion, saying she had earned the money with the work she had done for the district. NAACP leader Amos Brown pointed out that the departing UC Chancellor received a $350,000 severance and hadn't been asked to give that back.
Prop H Spending Plan Adopted
The board approved the spending plan for next year's Proposition H funds put forth by a Community Advisory Committee, with the caveat that several of the Council's suggestions would be tentative pending salary negotiations with the teachers union and other bargaining units. The board adopted unconditionally a plan for more elementary school librarians and more per-pupil funding for art and sports. It tentatively adopted a plan that would bring over $1 million to high school Site Councils for violence prevention programs, art teachers and additional education support staff. Educational support staff includes nurses, counselors and social workers.
Proposition H, which voters approved in 2004, allocates millions for schools with a third going to free preschools, a third going to SLAM programs, and a third that can be spent essentially at the discretion of the school district. The district will receive $13.4 million in Prop H funds for 2006/07 school year. Of that, $3.3 million will go to maintain existing programs already begun through Prop H. An additional $1.1 was taken from the 06/07 budget for use this year, in order to fill in cuts that had been made to the Weighted Student Formula.
District employee groups have suggested that the discretionary portion of the funds, the so-called third third, could be a possible source of funds for salary and benefit increases. Union employees have not received a cost of living raise in over three years and have threatened to strike if their new contract doesn't include adequate wage increases.
The Prop H funds will be allocated as follows:
Elementary Schools: SLAM Funds (definite):
- Adds 14 librarians for a total of 29
- $10 per student in arts materials, up from $5 this year
- Adds Elementary arts coordinators
- Maintains an existing program that gives each elementary school a half-time nurse, social worker, learning support consultant or counselor
- 24 per student in Intramural and Athletics support, up from $20 this year
- $10 per student in arts materials, up from $5 this year
- Provides professional Development for school principals in the arts
- Continues an existing program to provide peer resources teachers
- Provides for a quarter-time counselor for every 500 students
- $25 per student in Intramural and Athletics support, up from $20 this year
- $20 per student in arts materials, up from $5 this year
- Provides professional development for school principals in the arts
- Continues an existing program to provide peer resources teachers
- Provides for a quarter-time counselor for every 500 students
- Provides $1.3 million in funds to School Site Councils for the following:
- Violence and truancy prevention
- Custodians
- Counselors
- Librarians
- Art Teachers
- AP Test Funds
- Continues to fund a physical education content specialist
- Continues a program of centrally-funded athletic support
- Adds a Central Librarian for recruiting and supplies
- Adds an AEMP Manager for recruiting and supplies
Speakers also expressed concern about the possibility of using the Prop H funds for salary increases. Community Advisory Committee members said they had found little or no support from the public for using the funds for this purpose. Teachers union representatives, however, urged the board to keep its options open. "I thank (the committee) for giving of themselves," said Linda Plack, vice president of United Educators of San Francisco. "That is what we do every day."
Proposals Address School Closure Process
With rancor still fresh with regard to the recent round of school closings and mergers, commissioners and community members discussed continuing concerns about the process.
District 5 Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi told the board he had submitted two resolutions to the Board of Supervisors calling on the district to change the process. One called for the creation of a blue ribbon task force charged with developing both short- and long-range plans for dealing with school consolidation. The task force would include representatives from the Mayor's office, the Board of Supervisors and the Board of Education. The other resolution urged the BOE to revisit its decision to merge John Swett into John Muir. He criticized the decision as "myopic," saying John Swett was 81 percent occupied, had decent test scores and was highly diverse.
In response to criticism that public input on school closure decisions was inadequate, Commissioners Mark Sanchez, Norman Yee and Sarah Lipson submitted a resolution to create a Community Advisory Council that would help craft a long-term plan for addressing enrollment declines. The Committee would gather public input regarding school closings and mergers, while working to address the problem of under-enrollment at some schools and over-enrollment at others. The Council would consult with PTAs and School Site Councils at potentially affected schools and study the placement of enrichment and community programs within the district. Speakers cheered the proposal and the move toward more community involvement. As it was a first reading, no action was taken on the proposal.
Email comments to sfschoolnotes@greatschools.net
Labels: GreatSchools.net, School Board Notes, SFUSD Politics
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