San Francisco Youth Commission
Joint Education & Employment Committee
Minutes
Thursday, January 15, 2009
4:30-6:00pm
City Hall, Room 278
There will be public comment on each item.
1. Call to Order and Roll Call
Commissioners Martinez, Casting. SAC Representatives Nestor Reyes and Maxwell Wallace. Peter Lauterborn, staff.
2. Approval of Agenda (Action Item)
Agenda approved by acclamation.
3. Approval of Minutes (Action Item)
None to approve.
4. Election of Committee Chair
Commissioner Martinez nominated and elected by acclamation.
5. Public Comment on Items not on Agenda
None.
6. Staff Report
Staff had no report.
7. Unfinished Business
A. A-G Requirements
Reyes and Wallace recounted last Tuesday's Board of Education meeting where the A-G resolution passed. There was confusion over whether this resolution required that A-G requirements became graduation requirements or if it only created a study group to plan implementation. Concern over how social studies classes would be impacted and group agreed to monitor the situation.
8. New Business
A. Student Assignment
Review of the SFUSD's report on student assignment. Staff gave brief history of the problem in San Francisco.
B. Student-to-teacher feedback
Martinez stated that he had been considering working on student feedback with Commissioner Lau. Staff presented YouthVote data. Group agreed that any recommendation should be feedback-based, rather than punitive. SAC would draft questions. Wallace would get outside information on the issue. SAC and YC agreed to collaborate. Interest in some sort of student feedback for hiring teachers.
C. School-to-career
Staff presented YouthVote data on the issue that students want skill training classes, gave brief description of past vocational programs and associated problems. Update on Police program. All wanted a number of professional fields to be included, including teaching, public safety, medical/nursing. Interested in getting more information about what programs students specific want and what City/SFUSD departments would be interested in a closer partnership. Martinez mentioned UCSF.
8. Announcements (This includes Community Events)
Commissioner Casting announced that he was working on a resolution to have better education on LGBT issues in health class and for sexual harassment staff to be better in place at SFUSD. Issue was FYI. Wallace voiced strong support and a willingness to bring the issue to the SAC and the Board of Education.
Staff presented data on close adult relationships and homework. For homework, there was concern about how to best interpret the data and what solutions to use. Group consensus was for staff to compile a list of recommended changes which group could review.
9. Adjournment
6:10pm
Supplemental documents for agenda items are available for review at City Hall Room 345. Minutes are also available on the Youth Commission Website at www.sfgov.org/youth_commission