In San Francisco, Virus is Contained but Schools Are Still Closed

[David Lockmiller]

The following is the attorney Paul Scott announcement tweet and the proposed settlement Resolution by the San Francisco School Board members:

"SF School Board has finally capitulated and will repeal its resolution renaming 44 SF public schools. Like a bully confronted in the school yard, they call our case frivolous while walking away. Huge thanks to Professor Tribe for standing beside us." (Paul D. Scott tweet @PaulScott415)

Subject: Resolution No. 214-6A1 Second Amended Resolution, In Support of a Formal Process in the Renaming of San Francisco Unified School District Schools

WHEREAS: On February 21, 2021, Board of Education President Gabriela Lopez
announced that no further work on renaming schools would occur before SFUSD schools had
been successfully reopened; and

WHEREAS: On February 21, 2021, the Panel suspended its work to suggest alternative
names for the above-identified schools to the Board of Education in order to permit the Board of
Education to focus its efforts on reopening schools for in-person instruction; and

WHEREAS: On March 17, Petitioners Abraham Lincoln High School of SFUSD
Alumni Association, et al. filed suit against SFUSD seeking to void the Board’s action on
January 26, 2021 (“the lawsuit”) asserting, among other things, that President Lopez’ public
statement was not enough assurance that the Board would not be taking additional imminent
action to consider alternative names for the above-identified schools; and

WHEREAS: Petitioners’ lawsuit is nothing more than a transparent attempt to thwart a
lawful and duly-noticed action with which it disagrees; and

WHEREAS: The Board is deeply grateful for the work of the Panel, but wishes to avoid
the distraction and wasteful expenditure of public funds in frivolous litigation.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the Board rescinds Resolution 211-12A1
adopted on January 26, 2021; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Board shall revisit the matter of renaming
SFUSD schools, including reauthorizing the Panel, or similar Advisory Committee, consistent
with its Rules and Procedures, only after all students have returned to in-person learning for 5
full days each week.