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Parents, students and bus drivers press SFUSD on transport RFP and student safety at Denman
Summary
Public commenters urged the board to keep the transportation contract whole to protect drivers— wages and raised an incident at James Denman Middle School where students said staff forced them to delete photos and threatened discipline after a student displayed a costume resembling a KKK outfit.
Speakers at the public-comment portion of the San Francisco Unified School District board meeting on Aug. 27 pressed the district on two sharply contrasting issues: proposed changes to the transportation contract and an alleged student-safety incident at James Denman Middle School.
Jim Charis, who identified himself and said he has worked with the district for more than 20 years, criticized a newly issued request-for-proposals that would split the district—s transportation contract into three parts. He warned the structure could create multiple nonunion workplaces and multiple labor agreements, which "is quite honestly quite likely to occur" and would place a "serious threat to our membership." An unnamed bus driver with 48 years of experience told the board splitting the contract would duplicate administrative costs and likely put downward pressure on wages and benefits.
On student safety, 12th-grade and middle-school speakers described an event at James Denman in which a student brought a costume they say resembled a Ku Klux Klan outfit. Student Lainie Shonk said she and classmates were told by staff to delete photos and were warned they would "ruin his life" if the images spread. Another student, Sarah, told the board counselors had "threatened us" and pressured minority students to "become friends with this student who put it on," while the student who wore the costume received no punishment.
Board staff responded that assistant superintendent Miss Hanfa and Mr. Sanderson would gather more information, and staff committed to follow up with the students and the school to clarify what happened and whether disciplinary or restorative actions are warranted.
The public commenters also included a 16-year-old pole-vaulter, Jeremy Lee, who requested funding for new poles and permission to solicit donations on behalf of the district; Lee said about 20 student vaulters use Lincoln High—s facilities.
Next steps: staff said they would collect more information on the Denman incident and follow up with the students; no formal board action was taken at the meeting on the transportation RFP or the Denman matter.
