Min Chang, a candidate for the school board, held a press conference on the 16th alongside parents at the district’s entrance to voice their opposition against the proposed closure of schools. The San Francisco school district’s decision to close 11 schools has ignited ongoing controversy, with Mayor London Breed publicly opposing the measure. Both Min Chang and fellow Asian-American candidate Laurance Lem Lee expressed strong disapproval of the closures, highlighting the disproportionate impact it would have on the Asian and Asian-American communities.
During the press conference, Chang urged the school board and the district superintendent to halt the school closure process. Considering that three board members are not seeking re-election and one intends to run again, a total of 11 candidates are vying for four positions. He emphasized that it would be prudent to wait for the newly elected board members to make such critical decisions.
Chang pointed out that a review of the closure list reveals that a significant number of the students affected are Asian or Asian-American. He argued that the schools designated for closure are small and already experience low enrollment, with one of the criteria for closure being a student population below 260. “This effectively punishes the smaller schools,” he stated.
He also contended that closing schools will not resolve the district’s financial shortfall, suggesting that alternative solutions should be explored. For instance, he recommended that the district seek additional revenue from federal, state, and local sources and reduce direct and indirect costs from the central office.
Chang analyzed that the message sent to parents through such closures is troubling: “Even if a school survives this year, what happens next year? Will the trend continue, leading to further closures? This will complicate the management of existing schools.” He pointed out that all blame has been directed towards Superintendent Matt Wayne, describing him as a scapegoat. While acknowledging that Wayne bears some responsibility, Chang insisted that the board members who approved the decisions must also be held accountable.
Laurance Lem Lee echoed Chang’s sentiments, noting that 35% of the district’s population is Asian. He vehemently criticized the school board’s decision to close all 11 schools, describing the process as arbitrary and lacking a comprehensive approach. “I don’t understand how they determined the closure criteria, especially why only elementary schools were chosen. The focus should be on balancing the budget instead of hastily closing schools. If they try to implement half-baked projects, people will leave San Francisco.”
Lee also emphasized that the community had a month to communicate the folly of the school closure decision during the discussion period.
