Board approves governance change to Life Learning Academy charter

The San Francisco Board of Education approved a material revision to the Life Learning Academy charter to change the school's governance from the Delancey Street Foundation to a newly formed nonprofit public benefit corporation effective July 1, 2013.

Staff said the charter petition requested a revision limited to the governance structure and cited Education Code sections 47605 and 47607 as the statutory basis for the district's authority to act on material revisions. Principal Terry Delaine, a 15-year principal at the school, and Vice Principal Craig Miller explained that while certain operational details (notably student-transport vans) had been discontinued several years ago, the core Delancey Street model—mentorship, community partnerships and intensive supports for students—remains in place. "So that part has changed... but everything else, the mentors we get from people in the community... that model has remained exactly the same," Delaine said.

Commissioner Winns asked for staff to review whether other charter sections should be updated to reflect operational changes prior to the school's upcoming renewal; legal counsel said there was no reason the board could not vote on the governance revision that evening. Board members indicated they would review other charter details during the renewal process next year. The board approved the material revision by roll call, recorded as six ayes.

The approval changes the charter authorizer relationship insofar as the charter corporation becomes the petitioner and governance body. Board members asked staff to verify any other necessary charter updates at renewal and encouraged district site visits to the school for further review.