A relatively light agenda with just one major item — a status report on the Safe and Supportive Schools implementation, now in its second year. The policy seeks to end disciplinary practices that disproportionately affect the education of students of color, and instead offer training and support to school staff to help de-escalate conflicts and minimize disruptive and negative behavior.
We’ve definitely made progress — suspensions have decreased dramatically from 1921 in the 2012-13 school year to 1269 in 2013-14. Out-of-class referrals have increased as well. Students report that school climate is improved, and this summer alone, almost 1,400 school site staff received training in various aspects of the policy (Restorative Practices, Response to Intervention, Positive Behavior Intervention and Support, etc.). Our educator union, United Educators of San Francisco, partnered with us and secured a grant from the national American Federation of Teachers to train teachers in promoting pro-social behaviors.
In other news, Governor Brown will sign a bill hastily passed by the Legislature to fix the CAHSEE mess that left almost 150 students in San Francisco (and countless others up and down the state) in limbo, unable to graduate from high school and unable to take the test because it will no longer be offered by the state. Friday, August 14 was a day I won’t soon forget — we cut the ribbon on the gleaming new Willie Brown MS in the morning and in the late afternoon broke state law to stand up for students, issuing them diplomas in an impromptu ceremony (Commissioner Haney played “Pomp and Circumstance” through his computer speakers) to get them out of limbo. Glad to see the state backed us up and we are no longer a rogue district.
Here’s a slideshow of shots from the new Willie Brown Middle School:
Rachel Norton 
Everyone is very sad that Principal Hobson resigned. I want to echo what my colleague Jill Wynns told the Chronicle yesterday — we are concerned, but we are prepared to move forward and do whatever is necessary to make this school successful.
Suppose the real “Golden Ticket” was Principal Hobson? Suppose the parents were excited because he would be the New Black Principal at this New Junior High School in the Bay View District? This is the person that was used for bait to lure lots of people to bring their children to this school. He was a PROMISE! And now he is gone. Since “they” are so concerned about “NO STUDENTS SHOWING UP” – Suppose all the parents remove all their children from this school because “they” did not keep “their” word? JUST SUPPOSE!!!!!!!