San Francisco School Board Meeting Notes - January 16, 2007
This is not good. Why are all these people here? These people look like middle class white crowd. And we thought we finally got rid of them completely here at SFUSD. Ah, it must be that SPUTNIK Charter on the agenda. What is it, second item? No problem, we can always move it down. We’ve done this before. These people have families and they probably have to go to work tomorrow, they will not last for another three hours.
What? Supervisor Ed Jew is here? Oops, this is unexpected, someone ought to find out what is he doing here! Oh, Ed, look, we are all smiles and kisses and everyone is so happy and wants to say hello. Hmm, Ed, what is that look? You can not possibly still be mad at us, that we would not even acknowledge you, not even when you brought in that huge stack with thousands of stupid signatures. Ed, don’t be silly, who cares about the signatures now, we better talk about the Prop H money, the 20 million dollars that the city is about to give to the district. What SPUTNIK? Oh, Ed, you are so inexperienced, but see here is your old friend who wants to warn you that supporting the charter would not be politically wise.
It is 9:30pm, can not believe those charter people are still here… Bay Tech Charter from Oakland to open a second school in San Francisco . These two Turkish guys are getting on my nerves with their success story. Oh please, this is silly, Oakland kids winning robotic competition awards and essay contests. What! The academic performance numbers for African-American kids at the Bay Tech charter are way above the Oakland public schools average for the same population? Oh, no! Take down this slide, quick! This would not be good for us, this is dangerous. How would it look, if say next year it turns out that performance for targeted segment here is better than at San Francisco public schools? But don’t you worry, this is not Oakland , we would not let it happen here. Having second thoughts? Good, go right ahead, open your second school in San Jose or Hayward .
10:30 pm. Who is next? Oh, yeah, SPATNIK. Still here? Well, just wait, we will show you. You are going to regret not moving to Walnut Creek . What is this SPATNIK means anyway? Math, Science and Language Academy ? Maybe you also want your kids to learn Geography? Oh, good, maybe your computer will never boot-up. What kind of parent would want to kill their own child with geometry? Where are the people from child protection services? Is this presentation over yet? I am getting a headache. Do I really need to know about the fact that US kids rate below other countries in math and science? Why do I care? As long as we keep getting the money to fix this, I mean.
Hmm, all these people are planning to speak? Well, here goes our lack of community support argument. Yes, Jill, I pinched you under the desk. Wake up and think about something else, will you?
Who is this guy? Math professor from Berkeley ? This is the first time in history of SFUSD, I kid you not. These people are seriously out of their mind. Well, Einstein, as far as math goes, it is very simple. You see, the Board members are not elected by districts. So in Richmond and Sunset, you might have some critical mass, but in the city overall you are out of luck. Ha-ha. No Singaporean math needed.
Perfect, here comes the pro-union woman. I need a little break. I am sorry, Mr. Kelly, but this is boring. Enough, now let’s hear the Board’s comments. Shh, stop this “comprehensive curriculum” nonsense, Commissioner Mendoza. What are you afraid of, polonium?
Yes, you are right, Mr. Kelly. There is a disconnect, because these people say they want both, a bilingual program and a strong math curriculum. This can not be done, because this is impossible. It is one or the other. Jill, say something, will you? Now you are Russian too? What are you all smoking? Yeah, yeah, we will implement this in the district. Sure. Of course, there is no progress with that. What did you think? Where do you propose we open this Russian immersion program? Maybe we should do it in one of our good schools? What would that do to our “no school left behind” plan? Aren’t we committed to the most progressive school assignment process in the whole world? Oh, we’ll think of something. Please report progress by next Tuesday.