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Parents, students and residents urge SFUSD not to move KIPP Bayview to Treasure Island
Summary
Scores of Bayview Hunters Point residents, parents and students told the board a proposed relocation of KIPP Bay Academy to Treasure Island would harm students by increasing travel time, creating safety risks and severing community supports; commenters called the plan a "setup for failure."
Dozens of Bayview Hunters Point parents, grandparents, students and community members told the San Francisco Unified School District board on March 10 that moving KIPP Bay Academy to Treasure Island would be harmful to students and families.
During public comment, speakers described long bus trips, difficult transfers and safety risks tied to relocating a neighborhood school to an island that is under construction. "Why would anyone think it's okay to bus babies to an island when it's an emergency occur?" said Dedria Smith, a Bayview resident who said she feared separation from families in the event of an emergency. Multiple commenters said Treasure Island has limited access points and construction hazards that would make the site unsuitable for young children.
Lottie Whiteside and Rosemarie Sims, grandparents of former and current students, asked the board to consider how moving the school would affect enrollment at local schools and the ability of relatives to help with day‑to‑day care. "If there's an emergency, if the child needs an EpiPen or to see a doctor, I don't know how they're gonna be able to do that," Whiteside said.
Parents and community advocates also framed the relocation as an equity issue, saying Bayview families already face displacement pressures and that moving the school would remove a vital community resource. "This sounds like it's a hidden agenda for failure for our parents and children," a parent said. Commenters urged the board to keep KIPP in Bayview and to prioritize students' health, safety and community ties.
Board members did not take action on the relocation during the meeting. The comments were heard in the public‑comment portion of the agenda and will be part of the public record as the board and district continue any separate deliberations about school sites.
