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SF Board of Education votes to deny Mary L. Booker Leadership Academy charter after contentious public hearing
Summary
After a marathon public hearing with dozens of speakers for and against, the San Francisco Board of Education voted 6-0 on June 12 to deny the charter petition for the Mary L. Booker Leadership Academy, citing staff findings that petitioners were "demonstrably unlikely to successfully implement the program."
The San Francisco Board of Education voted June 12 to deny the charter petition for Mary L. Booker Leadership Academy, concluding a long and sometimes rancorous public hearing that drew dozens of speakers from the Bayview and beyond.
Board staff read a written recommendation that, under California Education Code section 47605, the petitioners were "demonstrably unlikely to successfully implement the program set forth in the petition" and asked the board to adopt the findings in the staff report as the basis for denial. Board members then took public comment in two ordered panels: supporters of the charter described a locally-driven effort to close achievement gaps and provide after-school supports and technology programs; opponents—parents, union representatives and community advocates—warned that approving the charter would divert millions in district funds, weaken public schools in the Southeast sector and lack sufficient transparency and accountability.
Proponents, including families who said their children had grown while attending charter programs, urged the board to expand choices for Bayview families. Opponents included representatives of the San Francisco chapter of the NAACP and the United Educators of San Francisco (UESF), who argued that charter expansion in low-income neighborhoods can re-segregate schools and shift scarce public dollars into privately run operations. Several speakers also raised concerns about Prop 39 co-location rules and the authority of outside operators.
After taking public comment, the board voted by roll call to deny the petition; the clerk recorded six "yes" votes to deny and the petition was rejected. The board directed that, if the denial stands, staff—s written findings be adopted as the documented justification required by law.
President Mendoza McDonald thanked all members of the public for the civil engagement and noted the difficulty of weighing competing views for a community deeply invested in student outcomes. Mike Davis, the district—s Director of Policy and Planning for charter schools, read the legal and procedural background included in the staff report during the hearing.
The denial concludes the local decision stage; petitioners may pursue the state-chartering appeals process under state law if they choose.
