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Students and community speakers urge SFUSD board to reinstate JROTC after ballot victory
Summary
Dozens of students and supporters told the board they want the Junior ROTC program reinstated after a successful ballot measure; speakers cited discipline, mentorship, community service and a large yes vote in the city and asked for immediate action and PE credit recognition.
Scores of students and supporters spoke during public comment at the March 10 San Francisco Unified School District board meeting urging the board to reinstate the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program.
Student speakers cited the November ballot result (described repeatedly during public comment as a voter mandate) and described personal benefits. "The students are here in support," Joseph Yee, a senior and JROTC executive officer at Galileo Academy, told the board. "We have voted in the past election on proposition b, and it is passed ... The students are here in support."
Speakers across multiple high schools said JROTC promotes discipline, mentoring and community service and asked the board to honor the public vote. Mick Del Rosario, a Lowell High School student, said "…the voices of San Francisco spoke in favor of Prop B, which received 55% of the votes," and urged the board to act "not later, not in the future, but now."
Students also asked that participation count toward physical‑education credit and that board members respect student and voter input. Board members and staff did not adopt a final decision on the program at the March 10 meeting; several commissioners said a formal resolution on JROTC had been submitted and would appear on a future agenda.
