Mirkarimi sees school closure framework now moving in right direction

By Pat Murphy and Luke Thomas

Copyright fogcityjournal.com 2006

January 16, 2006, 7:00 p.m.

The framework for closing or merging San Francisco public schools is now moving in the right direction, according to Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi.

Mirkarimi made the comment following a meeting this afternoon with Mayor Gavin Newsom.

"...The framework of the discussion is going in the right direction and...there is agreement that the school closure process needs to be improved upon so that it is more inclusive of communities," Mirkarimi told the Sentinel.

"The second is that we want a longer term process to determine how it is done not only to deal with changing population trends, but what we're going to do to reverse those trends.

"The third is that in the current round of school closures and mergers there has to be a more measured approach - instead of the exhaustive list that would hatchet as many as were being proposed.

"I think we both agreed that some closures and mergers have to happen. I don't think we agree yet on how many have to happen. We will see from there. It's a work in progress," Mirkarimi stated.

Earlier in the day, Newsom visited School Board President Norman Yee.

"Five million is not an accurate number in the context of this discussion, whether to close 26 schools…it's closer to $2.6 million," stated Newsom following his meeting with Yee.

Yee declined various community suggestions of city financial help to stave off closures and measures, Newsom told the Sentinel.

"A loan or a gift from the city will only extend the problem. We lost 1000 pupils last year and there's been a 40% drop in enrollment in the last 40 years," Newsom added.

Some 13 San Francisco schools ultimately may merge, relocate or close, considerably lower than previous estimates ranging from 26 to 19, Newsom said Yee predicted.

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