School Board Notes 6.12.07

By Nicole Achs Freeling
GreatSchools.net Correspondent

• District Names New Superintendent
• Guadalupe School Still Fighting for Computer Lab
• Proposed Budget Shows District Revenues Holding Steady

District Names New Superintendent

The board voted in former Las Vegas superintendent Carlos Garcia to be the new superintendent of SFUSD, starting July 16. Garcia, currently serving as vice president of National Urban Markets for McGraw-Hill Education Company, was superintendent of the Clark County School District in Las Vegas from 2000 to 2005. He also served as superintendent of the Fresno and Sanger, Calif., school districts, as a principal of San Francisco's Horace Mann Middle School, and as a school board member for the San Mateo County Board of Education. He grew up in Los Angeles, a student of Los Angeles public schools.

The board voted 6-1 in favor of Garcia. Kim-Shree Maufus cast the dissenting vote. She said she did so out of concern that the process had moved too fast, rather than because she had a problem with the candidate. "I felt we did not take the time to look right and look left, and make sure we were doing the most we could for the students of San Francisco." She went on to say, "My colleagues have heard my concerns and I know will continue to work to address them."

The district says the compensation package it is offering Garcia — including an annual salary of $255,000 — is less than that received by former Superintendent Arlene Ackerman in her last year of service. Ackerman was making a similar salary but had higher retirement contributions than Garcia will. The differential is due to fiscal constraints faced by the district, according to a press release. Garcia will also receive an $8,000 automobile allowance, a one-time $30,000 signing bonus, a $2,500 monthly housing allowance, and health and retirement benefits similar to those of other full-time district employees.

Board members, along with members of the public who spoke, generally applauded the superintendent search process, which they said had been conducted respectfully and amicably even when disagreements arose. Board members described Garcia as the best fit from among six highly qualified finalists, "all of whom were great people, all of whom I could've seen as superintendent," said Commissioner Mark Sanchez. The commissioners cited as attributes Garcia's experience working with a highly diverse student population and a high percentage of English language learners, his California-centered background, and his experience managing one of the largest school districts in the country. Several went on to qualify, however, that he was "not perfect." "We heard from detractors as well as supporters," said Commissioner Eric Mar. "It'll be up to us to work with him, but also to hold him accountable when necessary."

The Clark County School District and SFUSD share many problems, such as high dropout rates and achievement gaps, that bedevil many urban school districts. But Garcia's former district is also different in a key respect: the 5th-largest school district in the nation, it is also the single fastest growing. During Garcia's tenure, enrollment grew about 12,000 a year, with a new school opening about once a month.

The board voted to extend Gwen Chan's tenure as interim superintendent until Garcia takes over in July; she will stay on in an advisory capacity until the end of August.

Members of the board and the public voiced their appreciation for Chan, who has worked in the district for 40 years. Commissioner Norman Yee was so overcome with emotion he could not finish his speech. Others thanked Chan for her openness and genuineness, and for ushering in an era of cooperation with the board and labor groups.

Guadalupe School Still Fighting to Save Computer Lab

Teachers and students from Guadalupe Elementary School in the Crocker-Amazon neighborhood entreated the district again not to close its computer lab. Many of the students are from low-income families without other access to computers. The lab is closing to make room for additional classrooms due to overenrollment. Teachers and parents complained the move is jeopardizing the very students for whom the district has vowed to increase resources. The district has said it cannot get a bungalow set up at the school by the time school starts again in August.

Yee asked the staff to come back with a report as to how quickly they could get a new bungalow put on site. Commissioner Jill Wynns stated such a move was out of order as the board had not put discussion of Guadalupe School on the agenda. Legal counsel David Campos said he thought Yee's suggestions "stretched" what was allowable but probably was not out of bounds. Commissioners Mar and Maufus seconded Yee's request, further aggravating Wynns. Her protests were met with angry rumbling from the crowd. "What is your problem, lady?" one parent shouted.

Proposed Budget Shows District Revenues Holding Steady

Next year's proposed budget shows district revenue holding about even with last year in spite of declining enrollment. The budget includes some cuts, such as layoffs of paraprofessionals and classified employees. It also restores some funding to areas cut last year, when a deficit forced school closures.

According to the district's budget packet, its general fund revenues are expected to increase by about $5.1 million this year over last. Much of this increase represents funds that go directly to charter schools; the increase to district coffers is closer to just over $1 million. That increase, however, along with cuts in other areas is allowing the district to put some money back in to areas it trimmed last year, including weighted student formula (the allocation of money to schools based on the needs of each student), student nutrition and child development (i.e. care for after school and children younger than kindergarten age.)

Copies of the proposed budget are available from the district office at 555 Franklin Street. The board will hear a presentation and hold a public discussion on the budget at its Committee of Whole meeting Thursday, June 14 at 7 p.m. It will vote on the budget at its next regular board meeting, Tuesday, June 26.