1. Removal of Computer Room At Guadalupe ES Due to Overcrowding Over a dozen parents, teachers and supporters (along with students) packed the SF BOE’s Buildings, Grounds and Services Committee tonight.

The issue is that District’s proposal to eliminate the school’s computer room in order to accomodate an additional 4/5th grade classroom in 07-08. Terry Fontera, president of Guadalupe ES’s school site council, noted that the capacity for the school is 408 students, but the district has enrolled 436 students.

Cheryl Lee, assistant principal of elementary schools, stated that this was just the enrollment pattern for almost every elementary school and that some years, there would be a bubble of more students. Lee stated that the district was only placing students to the capacity of the school. But Commissioner Mendoza pointed out that she had called Guadalupe’s principal and the principal reported that Guadalupe ES currently had 436 students in a school that the District had noted two years ago to have a capacity of 406 students.

Parents and teachers testified that it would be difficult to implement the district’s solution of putting 20 laptops on two carts for several reasons-1) some of the classes are in bungalows and the computers could get wet, and 2) Guadalupe doesn’t have a computer teacher and the classroom teachers would have to use instructional time to set up the computers. Guadalupe supporters suggested that the District install a bungalow for the new class or use a portion of the bungalow that the child development center at the site uses for an office as a computer lab.

David Goldin, director of facilities, stated that it would be very difficult to get the approval from the Division of the State Architect and set up the bungalow in time for the fall of 07-08. But President Sanchez asked that Mr. Goldin visit Guadalupe and investigate various solutions before the next Buildings and Grounds committee meeting at the end of June.

A mother of a Guadalupe fourth grader and first grader went to the podium in tears. She reminded the Board that school will begin in September and that they still had not resolved the problem of converting the computer room for a classroom. The mother asked if the Board was ignoring Guadalupe ES’ requests since it served primarily low-income students.

Commissioner Mendoza was quick to reassure the parent that they were also concerned about the problem of overcrowding at Guadalupe. Mendoza noted that many of SFUSD’s schools serve low-income students. Commissioner Mendoza then said, “We want to take care of this for you and for all of our community’s schools. ”

Mendoza pointed out to Goldin that Guadalupe ES has had chicken wire over its facade for five years. Goldin said that the facade will be fixed and the school’s window will be replaced over the next two summers.

The item will also be brought in front of the Budget Committee on June 6 at 5:30 p.m.

2. First Tee is Building a Practice Green at Visitacion Valley MS Tony Anderson, former assistant superintendent for SFUSD, did a presentation for First Tee. First Tee, a nonprofit organization, is installing a practice green and a modular classroom at Visitacion Valley Middle School. First Tee will offer golf lessons as well as “life skill lessons” as part of an afterschool and Saturday program for Visitacion Valley MS, Visitacion Valley ES, El Dorado, SF Community School, Monroe Elementary, Visitacion Valley’s Beacon Center and Excelsior Middle School.

3. Leadership Charter High School Plans to Move Back to 300 Seneca and Take Over First Floor of San Miguel CDC The District staff alerted the Board that they are working with Leadership to apply for a state matching grant to renovate 300 Seneca (Leadership’s former location) in order for Leadership to move back and have their own home. Currently, Leadership Charter High Schooll is using the first floor of Burton High School. Leadership is also planning on converting six classrooms on the second floor of San Miguel Child Development Center for their own use.

No one was present from San Miguel nor the Child Development Program. Goldin stated that District staff have been in discussion with San Miguel and there were some concerns. At the request of President Sanches, District will be meeting with the San Miguel community on the plans. Due to the deadline for the matching grant (June 5), the District will be applying for $9.4 million which would cover renovating 300 Seneca and renovating six classrooms at San Miguel for Leadership Charter High School’s use. Goldin stated that the District could decide to reduce the scope of the matching grant at a later point.

4. Deadline Extended for Request for Qualificationss to Use Surplus Property for Teachinig and Staff Housing Goldin reported that the District has extended deadline for the RFQ for Teaching/Staff Housing to June 14. Theresa DeGrasso objected to the fact that the property at 7th and Lawton which is currently part of the watershed/greenway that goes from 7th Avenue to Laguna Honda, was going to developed into housing.

5. SF State Offers $10 Million for 700 Font SFUSD has received for the former site for the School of the Arts at 700 Font, an offer of $10 million from SF State. Goldin stated that the District has received a higher appraisal, but he did not reveal to the audience the actual appraisal amount. Under the Education Code, the district is required to send a letter to all public entities about surplus property for sale. Public entities are given 90 days to respond. If the district receives any offer that is not seen as a fair market value, the district can sell the property to the highest bidder.

6. Construction Projects Over the Summer The committee was given a list of the proposed construction that will occur over the summer. The audience was not given the list.

But the discussion noted some summer construction work:

-Almost every traditional high school will have some type of construction work during the summer.
-Approximately $3-$4 million of construction will occur at the Filipino Education Center.
-Roosevelt Middle Schoool will be repainted.
-Eight to nine sites will be re-roofed.
-The main gas line at SOTA/McAteer will be replaced.
-Play structuures at Jefferson CDC, Mahler CDC, Rooftop ES and Sunset ES will be installed.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.