Resolution urging San Francisco Unified School District Superintendent Arlene Ackerman to forego the provision in her current contract for a $375,000 severance package.

It is the position of the San Francisco Youth Commission that San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD)Superintendent Arlene Ackerman should forego the provision in her current contract for$375,000 severance package. In the face of SFUSD's mounting budget deficit, it is not only fiscally unsound to dedicate the amount of money concerned to a top administrator, but irresponsible toignore the compelling needs of SFUSD students.

As such, we believe that the SFUSD must prioritize youth first; educating students ultimately outweigh resolving issues of "incompatibility."

Based on former SFUSD student delegate and Student Advisory Council member Alan Wong's public comments on September 6^th at a full Youth Commission meeting, and Supervisor Sandoval's resolution introduced on September 20^th to the full Board of Supervisor's meeting, we believe that the following reasons in particular present the convincing case for Dr. Ackerman to concede her severance package in goodwill:

1. SFUSD faced a $22.5 million budget deficit for the 2005-06 school year that resulted in teacher layoffs, the closure of five schools and the anticipation of future school closures.
2. Superintendent Ackerman's salary is 30% higher than the average salary for a Superintendent in California; her contract included a $26,000 salary raise and $800 raise in monthly allowance.
3. Superintendent Ackerman's severance package equals that of 10 teachers' annual salaries.
4. Approximately 53% of 57,000 SFUSD students live in low-income households.
5. Each SFUSD student would pay approximately $6.50 each to garner the required $375,000.
6. The increases in Superintendent Ackerman's contact, including the severance package, may have been approved in violation of the State's Education Code.
7. Many SFUSD schools such as International Studies Academy and Thurgood Marshall continue to under-perform, with Balboa High school students, for example, scoring in the 10^th percentile on the English portion of the 2004-05 California Standards Test.

We do, however, commend Superintendent Ackerman's leadership in establishing stronger fiscal management and accountability, as well as creating the Dream Schools Initiative to address underserved youth. While we also understand that the severance package may be standard protocol, the grave state of SFUSD student achievement and financial capacity does not permit the luxury of granting generous parting gifts.

Therefore, for such reasons aforementioned, the San Francisco Youth Commission strongly urges Superintendent Ackerman to forego her severance package in goodwill. The Youth Commission puts the needs of children first, and believes that Dr. Ackerman also shares this commitment