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Presidio Early Education School families press board for transparency and a district advisory council after lease dispute
Summary
Parents, staff and alumni of Presidio Early Education School urged the Board of Education to form a district advisory council and to explore renegotiation or fundraising after the district signaled an intent not to renew the Presidio Trust lease; the board approved a one‑year lease extension to allow transition and further discussion.
Hundreds of Presidio families, workers and alumni turned out to the June 23 board meeting to protest a district move that could close the Presidio Early Education School (EES) when its lease expires. Speakers described Presidio EES as the only district‑run infant/toddler and deaf/hard‑of‑hearing program that also provides subsidized early learning slots, and asked the board to form a district advisory committee (DAC) to study options, seek renegotiation and allow time for fundraising and alternatives.
What parents said: Dozens of parents told emotional stories about access to nature, bilingual programs, inclusion of special‑needs children and the role of the school in making San Francisco livable for working families. "This school is the reason I moved here," one parent said. PTA leaders asked the board to postpone any decision to close or transfer the site until the community could be part of a formal study process.
What staff told the board: District staff described the lease situation with Presidio Trust and said the Trust’s posted comparable rents on Presidio property suggested renewal could cost many hundreds of thousands of dollars more than the district’s current $7/sq ft arrangement; staff estimated the current lease cost roughly $100,000/year. Given the steep market comps and the district’s budget pressure, staff said they were exploring alternatives — including building capacity on district properties — but needed time. The district agreed to a one‑year extension to allow transition planning and further outreach.
Board action and next steps: The board agreed to extend the lease one additional year and asked staff to return with options: renegotiation with Presidio Trust, fundraising partnerships and possible district‑owned alternatives. Parents asked explicitly for a DAC under California Board of Education best practices when a school closure is contemplated; the board committed to follow up and to inform the community of next steps.
Why it matters: Closing Presidio EES would reduce public early‑education capacity for infants, toddlers and bilingual and deaf/hard‑of‑hearing children in San Francisco; parents and staff argued closure would exacerbate already scarce childcare slots and displace vulnerable families.
The community said it would pursue fundraising and advocacy; the board asked staff to provide a clear timeline for engagement and to explore options before a final decision.
