San Francisco Youth Commission
Minutes
Monday, November 17, 2008
5:30-8:00pm
City Hall, Room 416
There will be public comment on each item.
1. Call to Order and Roll Call
Meeting called to order at 5:37pm.
Commissioners present: Marshall-Fricker, Jones, Erlikh, Lobo, Recinos, Frierson, Oliva, Balcazar, Castaing, Davidson, Lunsford, Martinez, Quesada.
Staff present: Julia Sabory, Gillian Bogart.
2. Approval of Agenda (Action Item)
A motion to approve agenda was made by Commissioner Marshall-Fricker and seconded by Erlikh, then unanimously approved.
3. Approval of Minutes (Action Item)
A motion was made by Commissioner Marshall-Fricker, seconded by Quesada, and approved unanimously.
4. Public Comment on Items not on Agenda
There was none.
5. Staff Report
Sabory, staff explained to the commissioners that the events grant that the commission has received is underway. The first summit will be in the Excelsior on December 20th. Youth commission members from the excelsior have been attending brainstorming meetings with members of excelsior community groups. There will be another in the Mission in January. She reviewed different neighborhoods where these events will be held, including a Youthfest in June. Part of the purpose of the summits is to develop more youth leadership working towards a citywide agenda.
Sabory explained that Marna Anning is no longer staff with the commission. She will technically be on staff for the next 2 weeks, but not in the office. Peter is out for the week and will return on the following Monday. Sabory welcomed questions after the meeting.
6. New Business
A. Discussion and possible action re: Resolution urging the San Francisco Board of Education to make A-G requirements part of the general high school graduation requirements, introduced by Commissioner Martinez.
Commissioner Martinez gave background about A-G requirements. Commissioner Frierson spoke about speaking at the human rights commission hearing and said that people should be granted access to educational equity.
Commissioner Martinez moved to suspend the rules for a second reading, and to adopt the resolution upon first reading. Motion to suspend the rules was made by Commissioner Marshall-Fricker, seconded by Quesada. Motion carried to suspend voting rules for a second reading.
Commissioner Frierson does not think that A-G should not be a mandate for graduation, for fear that it will block more people out of graduation. Lobo SFUSD provide a structure to make a-g awareness and structures stronger, but if adopted as is, it would lead to increased drop out rates. Quesada brought up the needs of esl students. Jones suggested a preparation class for entering high school students. But believes that the A-G should be required for graduation. Lobo likes the idea of short term urging the Board of Education to have a structure to create awareness. Should the percent of people graduating improve, then make A-G a graduation requirement. This would needs to be an incremental plan.
Public comment: Rachel Norton, newly elected to the Board of Education stated that she was supportive of this resolution. She doesn't want to limit people's choices before they realize what their choices are. Young people are making choices before realizing what their choices are. She believes everyone should graduate higher education and job ready, and that is why A-G should be mandated. She acknowledged the concern of leaving those out who are already struggling. Idea of converting courses so that more of them fulfill requirements, with out getting rid of the courses that people enjoy.
Commissioners read through and made amendments to the last two whereas clauses and the resolved clauses, with a focus on increasing awareness of the requirement, and permitting time for people who might be at risk of dropping out to understand the requirements.
Commissioner Lobo asked for timeline information from Rachel Norton who said "beyond the talk strategic plan taking action to educate every child now" is the strategic 5 years plan for addressing the achievement gap that can be found online.
The amendments changed the clauses so that the last whereas clause replaces the last two on the original document, and resolved clauses read as follows:
"Whereas, graduation requirements must be increased gradually to mitigate concerns about students who are already struggling with current graduation requirements or are at risk of dropping out; therefore be it
Resolved, that the San Francisco Youth Commission urges that the San Francisco Unified School District Board of Education gradually phase in the A-G requirements as the standard district-wide graduation requirements within 5 years; and let it be
Further Resolved, that the San Francisco Unified School District must develop necessary structures for all students to understand A-G requirements from the point of entrance into high school to ensure that they are on the track of their choice."
Motion to approve amendments was made by Marshall-Fricker, Lobo seconded, and the amendments were approved unanimously.
A motion was made to adopt the resolution by Quesada and was seconded by Marshall-Fricker.
Ayes: Marshall-Fricker, Jones, Erlikh, Lobo, Recinos, Oliva, Balcazar, Martinez, Davidson, Castaing, Lunsford, Quesada
Nays: Frierson
7. Unfinished Business
A. Discussion and possible action re: Statement of Opposition to congestion pricing of Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), introduced by Vice Chair, Nick Quesada.
Commissioner Quesada informed fellow commissioners that the process of revising the statement is underway, and that data is being collected to strengthen the statement. The statement will be discussed at a future date.
B. Discussion re: Supervisorial sponsorship of Resolution Addressing New Policies Affecting Undocumented Youth in San Francisco, Commissioner Lobo.
Lobo informed fellow commissioners that the Juvenile Probation department has created an ad-hoc working group to discuss the resolution. Members of the Juvenile Probation commission are discussing the resolution recommendations. The idea is to hold off on urging sups until January because of transition of new Supervisors into office. There will be meetings for those commissioners who should go speak with their supervisors.
Public Comment: Rauhmel Fox of WHOMentors.com, Inc. rose to make a statement, but did not make one once informed that the commission had already adopted the resolution.
8. Committee Reports
Youth Justice committee is collecting their survey, and continuing to develop a 5 year violence prevention plan. Some members are also working on putting together an event.
Planning, Land Use, and City Service committee is working with follow up for the rights of the Child, and creating a version for congress. Other work is being done regarding BART, and the Golf Task Force.
Health and Wellness Committee is hosting an event with the Adolescent Health Working Group and Balboa Youth Advisory Board this Wednesday, November 19th.
Education Committee is in discussions about the use of scorecards in the schools noting a signifcant educational achievement gap since 1992.
9. Policy Report
10. Announcements (This includes Community Events)
11. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 7:02pm.
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
ACCESSIBLE MEETING POLICY
The Youth Commission meeting will be held in City Hall Room 416 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA. The closest accessible BART station is the Civic Center Station at the United Nations Plaza and Market Street. Accessible MUNI lines serving this location are: MUNI Metro Lines J-Church, K-Ingleside, L-Taraval, M-Oceanview, N-Judah, and T-Third Street at Van Ness and Civic Center Stations; 9-San Bruno, 19-Polk, 47-VanNess, and 71-Haight Noriega. For information about MUNI accessible services call 923-6142.
The Commission meeting room is wheelchair accessible. Accessible curbside parking spaces have been designated on the corners of McAllister and Polk, and Grove and Polk. There is accessible parking available within the Civic Center Underground Parking Garage at the corner of McAllister and Polk Streets, and within the Performing Arts Parking Garage at Grove and Franklin Streets.
If you require the use of an American sign language interpreter, a sound enhancement system, or a reader during the meeting, Calendars and minutes of the meeting in alternative formats; such arrangements can be made by calling Gillian Bogart at (415) 554-6446, at least 72 hours prior to the meeting. Late requests will be honored if possible.
Individuals with severe allergies, environmental illness, multiple chemical sensitivity or related disabilities should call our accessibility hotline at (415) 554-8925 to discuss meeting accessibility. In order to assist the City's efforts to accommodate such people, attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical based products. Please help the City to accommodate these individuals.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE SUNSHINE ORDINANCE
(Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code)
Government's duty is to serve the public, reaching its decision in full public. Commissions, boards, councils and other agencies of the City and County exist to conduct the people's business. The Ordinance assures that deliberations are conducted before the people and that City Operations are open to the people's review.
For more information on your rights under the Sunshine Ordinance, or to report a violation of the ordinance, contact Frank Darby by mail to: Administrator, Sunshine Ordinance Task Force, City Hall Room 224, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102; by phone at (415) 554-7724; by fax at (415) 554-5163; or by e-mail at frank.darby@sf.gov.org
Citizens interested in obtaining a free copy of the Sunshine Ordinance can request a copy from Mr. Darby or by printing Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code on the internet, at http://www.sfgov.org/bdsupvrs/sunshine.htm