Joining SFUSD's Board of Education, a land acknowledgment being given by Greg Castro #BoardWatch
Superintendent's report: January is national mentoring month. Appreciation event this Thursday. Over 400 students are getting extra attention from staff and community member mentors. #BoardWatch
Supe's report: resources for students and families-info about vaccines, a searchable library for SF Loves Learning clips (sfusd.edu/services/healt…) #BoardWatch
Submit applications by Feb 5th!!! Make an appointment with EPC for help sfusd.edu/schools/enroll. #BoardWatch
African American Honor Roll, Feb 16, 17, and 18 (ES,MS,HS). More info to come on how to join the celebrations. #BoardWatch
Also, sign up for 1:1 tech help in 9 languages! booking.appointy.com/en-US/voluntee… #BoardWatch
Student Advisory Council report: there is an email students can contact for help with resources. On February 5, from 5-7 there will be a feedback session for students to share perspectives on distance learning. Looking for a sewing machine and 3-D printers for a project.
Next meeting is February 8, if you would like to attend, contact supervisory Salvador Lopez-Barr lopez-barrerass@sfusd.edu #BoardWatch
Next up is a RAVE award for Laura Palacio of Lakeshore ES and Maria Yap from Student Nutrition Services at Garfield Elementary #BoardWatch
Now it is time for public comment specifically for SFUSD students. (This is NEW!) Students will have up to 2 minutes to speak for up to 15 minutes of public comment. Can still take part in public comment later. Setting aside a space for students to be heard says @lopez4schools
Student comment: Student and member of YMAC at Coleman Advocates says if want to join Text "equity' at 4747 #BoardWatch
Student comment: about Lowell racist situation. when told student that they were bringing a situation to admin, said that he didn't care. This is something that needs to change. Also concerned about cost of school renaming. Seems performative. #BoardWatch
That was all the student comments for tonight. President López acknowledges it can be hard to come forward in these spaces, but want to make room. @lopez4schools
Actually, there are more students! Student comment: a senior at Lowell HS—we feel like there isn't enough from admin They say they are trying and they "might fail." Failure isn't an option, need to see something done about racist acts that have gone on for years #BoardWatch
Continued: Saying it is a "hacker" seems dismissive, don't want to admit that Lowell and students can be racist. Want more accountability and more action. #BoardWatch
Comment: a 2015 grad says this is not new. Has seen it happen to Black friends and Latino friends. It has happened not just this year but over the years. It hurts me, and I'm not even surprised anymore. Hurts my heart that other students have to go through this. #BoardWatch
Student comment: have a friend who goes to Lowell, it has been going on for a while, "you keep seeing it—it adds up." Bring it to the administration and nothing is done. #BoardWatch
Student comment: on Lowell Padlet incident, agree that calling it a hacker d/n take accountability. Need to take into consideration that people "liked" the post. Not just about the person who posted. #BoardWatch
Student comment: Junior at Lowell is still floored by the events that happened. Want absolute accountability. There have been multiple incidents in the past. Calling for a culture change and supporting BSU. #BoardWatch
Student comment: Freshman at Lowell asks that empathy be extended to administration. Quote from email from admin: "we do believe it is likely it was a student" - they are investigating as a hate crime. #BoardWatch
Student comment: yesterday in a breakout room heard someone talking about how adding more Black and Brown students would lower Lowell's standards. Disgusted by the padlet incident. Every kid of color who has gone there has felt it. #BoardWatch
Student comment: agree about feeling excluded, but also think the principal should be held accountable for this incident. Hasn't taken the right measures, frustrating. Would like to see a person of color leading the school. Who understands the pain of being a POC #BoardWatch
Public comment: parent from BVHM says that it is criminal to put families of teachers and students in mortal danger just because it is convenient. Don't blame teachers for protecting our lives and the lives of our families #BoardWatch
Public comment: home-owner in Glen Park speaking to attempts by board to cut funding to KALW and its unique local programming. Says the board has become a laughing stock because of things like renaming and mural #BoardWatch
Comment: a singer-songwriter also commenting to keep live in-studio performances on KALW #BoardWatch
Comment: another speaker talking about the problems with automation. An example happened last week when show got pre-empted with automated programming. Worry it is moving away from roots as a local community-based radio station #BoardWatch
Comment: PAC will meet Tuesday Feb 2 (date change). Also appreciates all the comments from students and want them to know that PAC hears them. #BoardWatch
Comment: several other speakers have given comment opposing automation/paid announcers at KALW #BoardWatch
Comment: teacher at BVHM says she has sacrificed a lot to be a teacher, but not sacrificing my life. I've survived dengue, know what it is like to see someone next to me die, to worry about getting family sick. Please wait to reopen school until August. #BoardWatch
Comment: on behalf of Close the Gap coalition, equity based approach to reopening schools safely. Families are trusting us to open schools when it is safe. Have seen data of students making gains above last year in some areas #BoardWatch
Comment: on behalf of Chinese Democratic Club, believe renaming should happen after schools reopen. Hope they reopen as soon as possible. Condems Lowell incident and see strong communications from admin. Wish Lowell can keep what it does well and eradicate racism. #BoardWatch
Comment: principal at Independence HS making comment on behalf of site leaders. Considering COVID disparate impact on students, object to SFUSD's plan to participate in CAASP testing this spring. 80 signatures. #BoardWatch
Comment: union representative is calling on SFUSD to listen to workers and constituents to keep community safe #BoardWatch
Comment: why is there no approved MOU for paraprofessionals? Many are going way above 120 minutes. #BoardWatch
Comment: there is a disconnect between district and school sites. Everytime I do something to support black students the PTA and principal swoop in to stop it. Need a process to hold site leaders accountable. #BoardWatch
Comment: YMAC fellow from Burton HS asking those who are concerned about reopening of schools to make Black and Brown students the focus, use Coleman's equity framework. #BoardWatch
Comment: Coleman's equity framework on reopening. If you say "Black Lives Matter," right now put Black students and brown students first. #BoardWatch
Comment: another YMAC organizer notes we have continued to fail Black and brown students, need to put them at the forefront. Use equity so loosely, but it means Black and Brown students should be leading and be a priority for reopening.
Next up (out of order) is item K on the incident at Lowell HS. #BoardWatch
There is going to be an update on the 4 demands from 2016. Deputy Supe Ford-Morthel is speaking. Bill Sanderson (Assistant Supe of HS) will also speak. Demands include a more inclusive curriculum, full-time African American recruitment officer, and a community center. #BoardWatch
Ford-Morthel notes that Lowell principal is on the Zoom as well. Sanderson wants to call out students who have come forward (thank them). Data shows that at Lowell there are 3 African American teachers out of 117 #BoardWatch
Percent of African Amerian teachers in CA is 4% in SFUSD is 5% at Lowell is 3% #BoardWatch
There has been a decline in the number of African American teachers in the district over 3 years #BoardWatch
Sanderson: school worked with SF CESS on culturally responsive pedagogy. Lowell worked through registry (home room) to deliver lessons around bullying, suicide, and anti-racism this year. #BoardWatch
Sanderson: Lowell hired a student advisor to support the needs of African American students and do strategic outreach to middle schools. Has not happened this year b/c Lowell will not have same application process. #BoardWatch
Sanderson: a Student center has just been finished during shelter in place. When return to school hope that it will be able to fulfill its purpose. #BoardWatch
Virginia Marshall from the Alliance of Black School Educators, speaking as a mother. Heartbreaking to hear (during a meeting yesterday) the trauma that our students are experiencing. Same racism as 2016. #BoardWatch
Marshall: students say the 4 demands have not been met. An African American Student Center is not the same as a Student Center. #BoardWatch
Marshall: on inauguration day instead of celebrating, BSU members had to see racist, pornographic images at school. Parents were in tears. Alumni going back to 1973 have shared the same experiences. #BoardWatch
Marshall: Why do we want to have a school that causes lifelong harm to students? Do we dismantle? Consolidate? Start over again? That is what I'm hearing from the community. #BoardWatch
Reverend Amos Brown: intimately involved for 40 years with the school district. "It pains me" that after all this time "the so-called liberal" San Francisco has not learned to respect the dignity and work of black students. Only about 45 Black students at Lowell. #BoardWatch
President López notes that it has not been shared what actually happened. Asking staff to share. Sanderson: on Wednesday there was a post with racist remarks and image posted on a Padlet being used with one of the lessons for the registry class. #BoardWatch
Sanderson: discovered by admin and taken down on Wednesday afternoon. Investigating who did the post, have not yet identified the person who did the post. #BoardWatch
Commissioner Collins: the image contained images of Black men having oral sex, F-words, N-words, antisemitic imagery - worst I've ever seen. Students were most upset that the response by admin seemed to focus on cyberbullying or hacking. #BoardWatch
Student Delegate Hines-Foster: need to stop sugar-coating it. Don't want to retraumatize people by sharing the image, but don't think the description describes what I and other students saw.
We are heading into public comment and it will last for one hour #BoardWatch
Public comment: statement being read from AAPAC: actions by students were not perpetuated in ignorance, write in solidarity with Lowell HS BSU; support demands made by students for admin to recognize heinous acts and create an action plan #BoardWatch
PC: Students posted pornographic images, slurs, and other hateful comments on Padlet during an event put on by Lowell's Black Student Union. Want to recognize these heinous acts and make an action plan. Find the students & make sure disciplinary actions happen #BoardWatch
PC: In 2016 students asked that SFUSD diversify staff at Lowell and be present at all times during the hiring process. Mandatory ethnic classes like European classes. Require all teachers for training, create African American community center, 0 tolerance policy for educators...
Comment: Statement from AAPAC continued: in 2016 asked for diversified staff, change curriculum, require teachers to take cultural sensitivity training, hire full time recruitment person, and an African American community center, zero-tolerance policy for educators and admin
Continued from previous tweet. These demands must be met. Also ask that you condemn the perpetrators of these harmful acts but also address the harm. Parents and students are hurting #BoardWatch
PC: These are no isolated events, we have been there before and we will be here again. Our students deserve to be safe in school while getting a high quality education w/o racism. We ask for action, SFUSD must ensure that continuous anti-racism professional development...
Cont from tweet: for teachers and staff. When those teachers and staff are found, high & low, they should be held accountable. In solidarity the African American Advisory Council #BoardWatch
PC: In solidarity with BSU. We ask that SFUSD works to meet the Lowell BSU demands originally made in 2016 #BoardWatch
PC: School Psychologist. Former SFUSD student. In solidarity with Lowell's BSU put emphasis on healing. Plea that resources are allocated towards your demands, your safety, and well being. Want there to be comprehensive student support. SFUSD should work transparently #BoardWatch
PC: Middle School Teacher: In support of and solidarity with Lowell's BSU. If you and the students we serve do not commit to fight white supremacy then we must examine and change our policies. Transparently meet and work with Lowell BSU #BoardWatch
PC: Program administrator in Multilingual Pathways. In support of and solidarity with Lowell's BSU. These are not isolated events. Need to check micro-aggressions and seeds of white supremacy. SFUSD must work transparently on the demands made by Lowell's BSU in 2016 #BoardWatch
PC: Sophomore at Lowell. Public relations for Lowell BSU. Principal has been at Lowell long enough to know about the racism. The administration has done a painfully poor job of protecting the few Black students they have. Need to support students of color. The principal should go
PC: VP of NAACP. Attended NAACP with students of Lowell. Met with students and Lowell administration. The incident that happened last week is not your problem. The toxic culture that has flourished is your problem. Students will be traumatized the longer you wait. Essential to...
bring in people to properly deal with it. Lowell students think they are better than other students. #BoardWatch
PC: Asking for assistant superintendent and principal contracts to not be renewed because of not dealing with events before 2016 and allowing them to continue. In 2016 there were actually 10 demands, they were there to work with them. Continued below...
African American teachers have decreased since 2016 #BoardWatch
PC: Former educator of SFUSD: Went through so many professional developments to be a better teacher. These teachers did not go to their trainings. Reeducate your educators. If you don't know how to teach then don't do it. If you cannot do it get out of the school #BoardWatch
PC: Need to get to the bottom of this incident. Inappropriate images in town halls. Zoom bombing happens. With new technology there are new security challenges. Give teachers credit for new tech, but need to recognize the risk #BoardWatch
PC: Reject the previous comments that say there were just tech issues. Thank you Black students for pushing back against racist culture. As a Jewish parent thank you for trying to make our schools more inclusive. Black students deserve their own space...
Black students deserve their own admin to work on recruitment #BoardWatch
PC: Parent of SFUSD students. CAC member. Stand in solidarity against the racist and antisemitic actions. We need to call our racism for the cancer that it is, address it and take concrete steps. Admitting it is in our schools is difficult but necessary. Holding people...
accountable must happen. Our students and families must know, in real time, how the district will be there to help with their social and emotional recovery #BoardWatch
PC: CAC stands in solidarity with AAPAC to the demands made in 2016 Lowell's BSU walk out. The CAC echoes the calling for accountability. Racism and antisemitism exists at Lowell. Social justice must be a reality instead of a talking value on a poster. Every student should...
feel safe and valued. Thank you Lowell BSU and student delegates who are setting the example of what people should be #BoardWatch
PC: President of Offices for Justice. Lowell Almuni. VP of NAACP SF. Appalled that students have once again been traumatized. Remember this same behavior happening at their time at Lowell. Time to take a stance, call for action & hold people accountable...
The 45 Black students who have been in pain deserve more. Maybe consider funding their college. It will be hard for you to repair it and it is disrespectful #BoardWatch
PC: Thank you for letting me speak. I wanted to talk to you about the school reopening. Is this a good time? Sorry about what is happening at Lowell. This is not nice and there should be better education for everyone #BoardWatch
PC: Latina senior at Lowell. The recent racist events at Lowell are not surprising. People of color don't know who to turn to. Lowell is shutting it's students up to gloss over their racism. Lowell leadership must change and the culture must change #BoardWatch
PC: Speaking in support of the BSU at Lowell. Alum of 1993. Recent events have not only angered and traumatized current students but alumni of color. This was not a simple cyber crime, that narrative diminishes what alumni of color know to be true. Not about what or why...
it happened but how it happened. Do the demands that were asked nearly 5 years ago #BoardWatch
PC: Science teacher at Lowell. Been there for 20 years. The very real pain and inexcusable damage was done. It should have been a day of celebration. Administration is capable. The Lowell community has been fighting for equity for years. Lots of resistance to this work...
Respectfully suggest a task force #BoardWatch
PC: Pres of United Educators and Lowell Class of 1972. Saw the images and words on the padlet and they were traumatic. Students are feeling real pain. Must be seen, heard, and believed. Must be acknowledged & addressed. Teachers want to work to fight white supremacy #BoardWatch
PC: Thank you Black students and parents for the emotional work you put in. Went to Lowell and was a teacher there and things have not changed. As an SFUSD teacher why is Lowell as an institution allowed to exist? If it's too racist for Black students it is too racist for anyone
PC: Secretary of Lowell BSU. So frustrated with how Lowell has handled situations. One that upset them the most. Old sponsor thought it was a hacker, refused to take down the petition in contradiction to the BSU. Teacher this student had and liked but no longer respects
PC: Stop protecting the abusers in Lowell. The more you guys excuse this, the more it is a safe haven for racists, rapists, and homophones. Keep putting out statements, hunt down those racists, hunt down those rapists, hunt down those homophones & deal w/ them the right way...
We do not condone sexism, racism, or anti-LGBTQ rhetoric #BoardWatch
PC: Association of Chinese Teachers. It is our responsibility of teachers to ensure the safety of our students. Stand with AAPAC. Steps need to happen now to hold people accountable #BoardWatch
PC: Senior at Lowell. Ask to please examine the teaching and learning policies at Lowell and across SFUSD. Given the racist incidents that happened at Lowell this year, it makes common sense to look into these things. How could you think an anonymous platform...
would be okay at a school that has such a clearly racist history? #BoardWatch
PC: Combination of both sides. As a student been to a lot of schools. Do not do things anonymously. Padlet has a horrible reputation, no idea why any school uses it. Kind of a scam. Student who thought it was funny is probably not racist but made a dumb choice. Not okay though
PC: Teacher at Lowell High School. These past couple days their girls that attend Lowell, there's enough history already in place. This thing is nothing new, you need to address this. It's painful and challenging us in all the wrong ways, thank you #BoardWatch
PC: SF Native, Decreasing the Distance. Stand in solidarity with Lowell BSU. Had conversations w/ young people about experiences with racism and anti-blackness and more should be done especially in schools. Adhere to the demands of the BSU, ensure Black students are centered
PC: Sophomore at Lowell. Not Black or Jewish but stand along peers at the inhumane comments made this Wednesday. When these happen we set a precedent that it is acceptable. Call for transparency moving forward. Urge the BOE to uplift students of color. Thank you Lowell BSU
PC: Not a tech issue. For decades racism has grown and taken root creating a culture that is not safe for emotional health and academic health of Black and brown students. Need to look at this broadly. Teachers who have been there for decades. Need to look at students too...
Need to look at microaggressions made from teachers towards students of color. We need to stop this today. Marched w/ those students in 2016, cried with them, stop this right now #BoardWatch
PC: Member of AAPAC. Stand w/ Lowell BSU. Wants a call for change. We cannot face what we are not willing to face. Not some silly student, this is not a joke. Caused a lot of harm and let every racist person know that racist acts will not be tolerated in this district. SFUSD...
must take a swift stand. It has escalated and it must be addressed. We have to make a change. Hopes by the time that their 3 month old is in high school things will be different. Did not let 10th grader go there. How long does it have to happen? #BoardWatch
PC: Class of 2008 Lowell Alumni. Solidarity with Black students and BSU who are doing work they should not have to do. Should not have to advocate for themselves. When at Lowell accused of plagiarism, told not Lowell material. Good people have come out of Lowell but...
It is now only known for anti-blackness and it is more than that #BoardWatch
PC: Parent of Student. Join in solidarity as a woman of color. It is deeply disheartening to hear about the toxic culture of racism that happens at Lowell. Endured many unfortunate experiences. Must be a level of accountability. You are the one being called to action...
There needs to be a change of the administration. Thought I could create change there but I am putting in my resignation #BoardWatch
PC: Parent of Lowell Student. Recognize the experience of students specifically African American and Jewish community members. Horrified, so sorry this continues to happen. Lots of disconnects is happening between students, admin, and BOE. Need more help and more needs to happen
PC: Sophomore and BSU Treasurer. Lowell needs to do better and Lowell admin needs to do better. Tire of cover-ups. There is racism at Lowell, out of 3,000 students only 45 are Black. Feels highly uncomfortable. Lowell admin and principal need to be held accountable #BoardWatch
PC: New Pres of Black Student Alliance of Educators. As many has said today, Lowell was photo bombed on inauguration day of all days. So it was planned. Pornographic and racist images shared in antiracist class. This is a hate crime. This is how white supremacy is...
is imbedded in our society and in this city. We stand in solidarity with the BSU and the demands made by them. This is a hate crime. We encourage SFUSD to create clear and concise consequences directed toward any group of students. Immediately seek out Lowell BSU students...
and give them counseling. We need to support our students. We are proud of our students for how they handle their business and for being scholars. We recognize and appreciate the immediate concern of BOE and Superintendent Matthews #BoardWatch
PC: Thank you students, community and family members for speaking out for them. In 1 1/2 years at Lowell, we defiantly want to make sure this is a safe place for students. No excuse for what happened on their watch. The pain caused is inexcusable. Figuring out ways...
to make it right. Reached out to different people today to support students moving forward. One mistake was how the effort to support was a generic link. Need to figure out mental health support, specifically reaching out to Black SFUSD social workers....
Not here to say that everything is peachy but ready to do the work. Community member and this happened under my watch and taking responsibility. I want to do the work that you need especially for students of color #BoardWatch
PC: Reverend Brown is having technical difficulties. On behalf of NAACP President Brown. BOE needs to create a committee to solve racist practices so they do not continue. We know what to do, we have done this before. Solve these racist practices and if it doesn't work then...
those Lowell administrators should be removed #BoardWatch
PC: Parent and Alumni. Lowell has been racist since they attended. This is not acceptable and we ask on you to help. As Pacific Islander standing in solidarity with BSU and students of color #BoardWatch
PC: Granddaughter went to Lowell for two years. Was attacked verbally by a teacher. Before they were the Lowell Cardinals, they were the Lowell Indians. They have hid behind their status for years. Kids are bullied, told they are not qualified. System wide, images...
should be erased that continue racism. It needs to stop and stand with students who are speaking out. Continue to make your voices heard until change happens. This has gone on for too long #BoardWatch
President Lopez: This is an issue that we don't want to turn away from, opening up to board and student delegate discussion #BoardWatch
Student Delegate Kathya Correa-Alamaza. Has nothing new to add that has not been unsaid. That is because all of this is nothing new. The word trauma keeps coming up. For as long as the schools continue to handle these as isolated incidents, the harm will continue #BoardWatch
Cont from above: The trauma of students of color and Jewish students needs to stop. Education is a place where change can happen. Result of good-ass teachers, a good-ass school and it pains them that not every student gets access to this transformational opportunity...
Cont from above: To the students who do this you should learn a lesson you should have learned a long time ago. I will pray for you. Student delegate Shavone Hines-Foster does the work that adults need to be doing. You all should be taking notes #BoardWatch
Student Delegate Shavonne Hines-Foster: You all saw what happened at the meeting yesterday. You saw an administrator resign and say "Shavonne you got what you wanted" that shows you the people we hire, you hire, and you put to serve these kids. You failed me & numerous other...
students and this can't keep happening. If this has not changed your mind, I don't know what will. Kids have died, been abused, how much longer? Truly a question. You have blood on your hands and you need to write me that check. Please pay for my college, I've been...
carrying this school on my back. Students come to me and not to the admin. You all come to me with your SFUSD centered, social justice centered that is super janky. How much longer? When the parents act out, when the admin acts out, you act surprised. It's not surprising to us...
It's surprising to you because you let it continue. It's ghetto and it's raggedy and it needs to be fixed. I'm not going to sit on another registry call when I know my administration isn't going to do anything about it. That's a waste of my time, school resources...
You all let kids see a man suck his own penis. Come on now. Pornography, suicide, rape, racism, you all are tallying up points. But you are looking for diversity points. Really glad that we had that meeting last night so you could see what we deal w/. 10 minutes into...
the meeting you heard an administrator say should I resign now or later. If people cannot listen to the community then who are you hiring? What are you paying them for? You have an administrator who quits and blames a kid. I am not the reason you quit. Me not tolerating...
racism. As my friend said earlier about the petition, where did the contract that 7 other girls signed, I know I'm not crazy. And I'm surprised I'm not crazy, it's off the hook, it's ghetto, it's raggedy. You need to fix it. Let me put the icing on the cake, lay it...
on thick, when I asked the principal if she received death threats she said no but I did. Last night we heard they were hiding evidence for suicide from SFPD. Last night we saw in the chat that the school for 39k for equity work and yet we are here. Stop playing Black kids...
you're playing us. Give me my credits and let me go to college. I'm tired of coming to meetings and going back and forth. Tired of emailing back and forth and just waiting for replies. We've been waiting and it's your fault. #BoardWatch
If I'm gonna have to say this speech again and do this again, I don't know what will make you see it. #BoardWatch
@lopez4schools Students have been taking on too much and we see that #BoardWatch
Commissioner @AliMCollins James Baldwin it is not students responsibilities to be raising these issues. They should not have to bear this work. Ibram X. Kendi says there is racist and there is anti-racist. Parents who fight for slave owners names is racist #BoardWatch
Commissioner Collins: This is abuse, not microaggressions. People have been saying it. This is traumatizing to me, Black Alumni, and Black community members. This is not healthy for any child. We don't have more Lowell's because Lowell hoards resources #BoardWatch
Commissioner Collins: Want an affinity space for parents of color so they can share pain and trauma. Figure out what they need immediately and try to meet it. Met w/ NAACP and have offered to work with them on an equity audit. We need help to hold people accountable #BoardWatch
Commissioner Collins: Lowell is not the only high school with these issues. Hope to share a resolution next week. Parents and alumni are an issue. Big factor in creating school culture. Thank you to alumni who are supporting Black students & students of color #BoardWatch
Commissioner Collins: Want PTA's to figure out what they need to do to be a part of the solution. Want to figure out how to support students, that might be crowdfunding. Will be working w/ community leaders to immediately support students who experienced trauma #BoardWatch
Student Delegate Shavonne Hines Foster: Think it's interesting some of these teachers who talked during public comment. They are part of the problem. Put on your boots and let's get to the work, we need to start from the ground #BoardWatch
Reverend Brown: Appreciate interest and involvement. You had the privilege of hearing the cry, concerns, and critical pain that these Black students have been going through at Lowell high school. Did not just start. Been here for 45 years, becoming before this board for...
43 years. It's quite poetic and ironic that on the way to get the covid-19 vaccine. The question is, parents and community leaders, are we ready to get out vaccine for racism, elitism, demeaning of persons who happen to be a darker hue. We should not in 2021 be...
mirroring the thinking of Aristotle who said that an Ethiopian person was inferior because his skin was dark. Aristotle said that, it is right in the politics. What am I citing all this history for? We have been infected w/ that disease of racism and it has made its way again...
and again to the city of SF that claims to be so liberal and progressive. But that is only for privileged people, not Black people. Do not point fingers but get ready to take that vaccine. Truth telling, we've got to tell the truth. Heard from nephew...
that the same thing was going down in the 1970's. We need to face that we need to take the vaccine so we can live. Amanda Gorman who spoke at the Inauguration, shows what Black people can do. Citing this to say it is time we take our vaccine, take it over there to Lowell...
Truth telling, trust, and transparency. The Superintendent, a committee but not too big, needs to go over to Lowell. Need to look and listen to Black students. Need respect. Waiting to see after 43 years, will this school board take a laser beam approach....
For this mirror reflects that we all are guilty. The whole city of San Francisco. Black folks who were enslaved for 450 years. We need to change the name of the school and thanks to this board you listened, you took the vaccine. Let us do that again, change Lowell, change...
Every school. We need to show respect and love for each other. Get the facts, tell the truth, trust and respect each other. We need to be friends and love each other. Not gonna rest until Lowell gets its act together. Parents get their act together. Community members get their...
act together. This board gets it act together. They have been crying and they are not lying. They are telling the truth. Listen to students, thank you #BoardWatch
We will now hear from commissioners #BoardWatch
Commissioner @KevineBoggess this is not just SFUSD this is our state or nation. I experienced a lot of anti-blackness at SFUSD. Hopeful that this current board can do the work to combat institutional racism inside our school district and schools. #BoardWatch
I think of institutions as racist and we will do the work. I want to be an ally and lift up students. Not just students but parents, community members, CBO's, staff, the city and the nation. To be aware of our role & our commitment and not just kick them down the row #BoardWatch
Commissioner @jennyhlam Thank you student delegates. When you speak your truth it really impacts me. Racism in our institutions has existed far too long. It is upon us now for the change that is so desperately needed #BoardWatch
Commissioner Lam: For us as educators, youth development workers, mothers, fathers, to say we love you and to know that there are people who work against that is heart-breaking. Thank you to student delegates, to alumni. I am ready to do this work #BoardWatch
This is not just happening at Lowell but all over the district. Similar to what people have shared, "still?" "again?" If that is a sentiment in public, then we are just protecting what has gone on for too long. Thank you to Shavonne & all the student leaders who spoke #BoardWatch
Commissioner @mattalexandersf listening to Reverend Brown reminded me of a sermon given in Washington, by Reverend Amos Brown, last year, "...let justice run down like water." This should start with truth. We need to be fearless & student centered #BoardWatch
Commissioner Alexander: We need to listen to students and believe them. Speaking to white leadership and quotes MLK Jr. letter from a Birmingham Jail. Here's the link to the letter africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/L… #BoardWatch
White people are surprised, just means they need to open their eyes. These are not isolated incidents. We need other people to step up and join this journey #BoardWatch
Commissioner @FaauugaMoliga this is just sad. For the adults, its on us to take care of these kids. To make sure they are nurtured, shame on that administrator. Never ever should any adult or professional who we put $ in your pockets, should blame any kid #BoardWatch
This continues to happen, at this school. This is not safe and that is not okay. I have lots of emotions. We need real change, today, yesterday. My heart goes out to all of the families, the students, and the parents. We gotta get it right #BoardWatch
@marksanchezsf thank you to Reverend Brown for speaking and other African-American parents for speaking. Thank you to student delegates, wish I was as eloquent as you. Hate that you have to go through this. In a way, not surprised by what happened #BoardWatch
We are seeing the direct result of white supremacy that Trump has let loose. We must have reaction and there must be consequences, they must be serious and dealt with. I think we all stand in agreement that this must be dealt with directly #BoardWatch
Lowell has been a festering pool in racism. There's a reason that Lowell is illegal, it is immoral and unethical. We perpetuate it by letting it go like this. Racism is in all of our schools, never seen it this way and this loud though #BoardWatch
We have to commit to changing things, it's one of the reasons we are doing the school renaming. It's a moral message and we have to stand by it. There was resistance from staff to change its ways. We have to look at who we hire #BoardWatch
@SFUSD_Supe thank you community for coming out and sharing. The buck stops here and it's in my lap. I take responsibility for those incidence. I want to add that people have said this is isolated. 40+ years ago I was a student accepted to Lowell #BoardWatch
But chose not to go. The culture of Lowell began since it became an admission school. Told the students last night, I salute those who chose to go there, you were braver than I was. These are not isolated, they did not just occur over the past few years #BoardWatch
The issue is where it is elite. An elite school is one group is admitted because they are superior to others. It make sense why it has these issues with that idea. It is an elitist school seeped in white supremacy culture. It has gone on for quite a long time #BoardWatch
Next steps: Students in 2016 had a set of demands. 5 years later, the current students have asked for those same demands. Commit to enact those demands and ask that the board check on me in three months about progress #BoardWatch
In support of the equity audit. Those two steps are not enough. The mindset of the oppressed, we look at an issue and our ask is not as big as it should be. Audrey Lorde said we cannot use the masters tools to dismantle the masters house. We are still putting them into that sytem
That's the third piece and the most important is a commitment to having a community discussion in a very facilitated way whether we want to have an elite school as part of SFUSD #BoardWatch
We are having difficulty hearing President Lopez at the moment but we will try to get some of it #BoardWatch
Request review of the incident and deal with the harm. Resolution in support of an equity audit. #BoardWatch
The NAACP will be involved with the equity audit #BoardWatch
We are starting from part E of the agenda. Unfortunately we could not hear from the Migrant Education Project tonight but President Lopez will be following up #BoardWatch
We are moving onto part F! #BoardWatch
This is a resolution that is being presented but the American Indian Council are also co-authors in this #BoardWatch
Here is the resolution go.boarddocs.com/ca/sfusd/Board… #BoardWatch
Hi all, we are signing off the for the night. Here is a link to the agenda for the rest of the night go.boarddocs.com/ca/sfusd/Board… and here is the link of the recording from tonight sanfrancisco.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.ph… #BoardWatch
@threadreaderapp unroll please!
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
