October 19, 2008

San Francisco Unified School District School Board Commissioners Jane Kim and Norman Yee, who have opposing positions on the issue of JROTC in San Francisco public high schools, are jointly proposing a leadership program training students on emergency response and preparedness skills.

Students who enroll in the class will earn credit for their successful completion of the Student Emergency Response Volunteers (SERV) program, which organizers believe may be the first such program of its kind in the country.

What: Press conference to introduce new STUDENT EMERGENCY RESPONSE VOLUNTEERS (SERV) program

Who: School Board Commissioners Jane Kim, Eric Mar and Mark Sanchez; Sandra Lee Fewer, Director of Parent Organizing, Coleman Advocates; and Darin Ow-Wing, Executive Director, Community Educational Services

When: Monday, October 20, 2008, 4:00 p.m.

Where: 555 Franklin Street, San Francisco

“Commissioners Yee and I proposed this program so students can create emergency disaster plans for their families,” said Commissioner Kim. “They will learn CPR, first aid, and HAMM radio skills. This program is going to offer the kind of leadership training our city needs in preparation for the next major earthquake or other disasters.”

Fellow Commissioner Mar added, “This is a great example of real leadership opportunities we can provide to high school students to replace the military-run JROTC program as it is phased out. I believe this program offers the kind of student leadership training San Francisco’s families and communities really desire.”