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Meeting Focuses on
Revitalization of Leland Avenue by Gerry L. Galvan After a year of strategic planning, Visitacion Valley's revived merchants association finally found itself off the ground with an official endorsement by Mayor Willie Brown during the Leland Avenue Community Meeting on July 23 at the Visitacion Valley Community Center (VVCC). Brown was joined by a host of other City officials, including Supervisor Mabel Teng, and Stuart Sunshine, director of Parking and Traffic, who were each asked questions concerning the revitalization of Visitacion Valley by a panel of local community representatives. In an introductory speech to a large gathering at the VVCC gymnasium, Brown explained that San Francisco is a community made up primarily of unique neighborhoods with individual characteristics and needs. He said that both the Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development, as well as the Police Department, have been instructed to focus on Visitacion Valley in creating "as attractive and interesting a community as you want to make it." Brown emphasized the need for a revitalized Valley Merchants Association, and that local surveys of residents and merchants conducted last year were vital in providing information about the needs of the neighborhood. Based on those surveys, the Community Design Center drafted attractive renderings of what the Visitacion Valley business corridor could look like. But Brown warned, "None of this can happen, however, with out full and complete citizen participation. And that's every citizen--not just a select group of citizens." "This is bringing government to your doorstep," he said. "Take full advantage of it. Ask every question...make every suggestion...extract whatever you need to extract." The July 23 meeting came two weeks after an exploratory issue discussion at Bank of America on Leland Avenue where leaders and proponents of the new Merchants Association mapped out plans for the July 23 gathering. Meeting facilitators Delores Logan and Vincent Chao discussed the background of the Leland Avenue Revitalization Project, while Chao later drew a picture of the Merchants Association's history, goals, past achievements and future expectations. Framework for the new merchants association was organized last year by the Visitacion Valley Task Force (VVTF) in cooperation largely in part with both Jay Smith and Gloria Woo of the Mayor's Office of Community Development (MOCD). Brown also announced that a July 11 meeting with members of Friends of Visitacion Valley Parks resulted in his instructing the Public Utilities Commission to make six blocks of open space adjacent to Rutland Street known as the Reis Tracts available for parks. The City's Recreation and Park Department, he explained, would also be a participant in transforming the currently empty lots into an attractive Visitacion Valley GreenWay.. "We'll find a way to do it," assured Brown, who said he'll look forward to cutting a ribbon for a future opening. VVTF APPROVES
BYLAWS
Leland Avenue Community Meeting July 22, 1998 San Francisco Police Department (SFPD)
1. Proposed Ingleside Boundary Change
2. Police Resource Center on Leland
Avenue
3. Additional Police Staffing for Leland
Avenue
4. Foot/Bicycle Patrol on Leland Avenue
Recreation and Park Department
1. Status of Rehabilitation of the Visitacion
Valley Park
2. Status of "Greenway Project"
Public Utilities Commission, Bureau
of Light, Heat and Power
1. Increase Street Light Intensity*
Department of Public Works, Bureau
of Street Environmental Services
1. Regular Street Cleaning Schedule
2. New Trash Receptacles
3. New Trees
4. Regular Schedule for "Green Machine"
Mayor's Office of Economic Development
1. Access to Working Capital and Facade
Improvement Loans
2. Recruitment of New Businesses
Public Transportation Department
1. Light Rail Station on Leland Avenue
2. 56 Bus Extension
Department of Parking and Traffic
(DPT)
For information: 554-PARK; Zone/signs: 554-2300. 1. Survey of Parking Needs
2. Regular Schedule for Parking Control
Officer
3. Need for Yellow Zones
Mayor's Neighborhood Beautification
Fund
1. Street Logo Sign in Multiple Languages 2. Street Light Baskets 3. Information Kiosk *All of these are possible. Paperwork
is needed.
City College Trustees Approve Financing for New Campuses San Francisco City College certified Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs) on July 21 and approved bridge financing for two new college campuses in the Mission District, and the Chinatown and North Beach neighborhoods. Both campuses currently serve approximately 14,000 students. The two new permanent campuses will provide day and evening educational opportunities for current and future students in these communities. "These two campuses are essential for City College to fulfill its mission of providing students of all backgrounds and cultures access to affordable, high-quality educational programs," said Rodel Rodis, president of City College Board of Trustees. "Both of these campuses will be major community assets that will bring top-notch educational programs and services to the residents of the Chinatown, North Beach and Mission communities." Both campuses have widespread community support. The new Mission Campus will be located on Mission Street between 21st and 22nd streets, and will allow City College to significantly increase student enrollment in the Mission District. It will include 50 classrooms, 10 learning centers, a multipurpose room, a performing arts hall and parking for up to 110 vehicles. The new Chinatown/North Beach Campus will be located on Columbus Avenue at Washington Street. Currently, the campus is spread out among a leased building at 940 Filbert St. and 12 smaller satellite locations. When completed, the new consolidated campus will include 52 classrooms, a multipurpose room, library, computer labs, an academic counseling center and up to 114 parking spaces. The building will be eight stories high, a height that the City had previously approved for a proposed office building on that site. "For years, our Mission and Chinatown/North Beach students have had to endure cramped classrooms in outdated facilities," explained Rodis. "We are looking forward to finally offering our students safe and appropriate facilities that they need to achieve success as they prepare to enter the job market." Bridge financing, which is being arranged through the issuance of $8.4 million in certificates of participation, will allow City College to purchase both sites. Bridge financing was necessary because general obligation bonds approved by voters in 1997 for City College has been tied up in litigation challenging the 49ers stadium election. Until that lawsuit is resolved, bonds approved by voters on the June 1997 ballot can not be issued. Rodis also noted that City College is committing itself to a comprehensive affordable housing plan and program for relocating residents who will be displaced by the project. It is expected that no resident will be displaced for five years, while the College seeks state funds the construct the new campuses. "These campuses are about the future of San Francisco," said Rodis. "We are providing opportunities and advancement for thousands of students who enter our doors each and every year." Town Hall Meeting at Community Center Nearly 50 residents attended a Town Hall meeting on June 24 convened by the San Francisco Foundation and Village community center at the Visitacion Valley Community Center. It was one of a series of meetings held throughout the Bay Area as part of the Foundation's celebration of its 50th anniversary. Three Developments Will Bring New Housing to Valley by Judith Sandoval In February 1995, the City of San Francisco and HUD executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) as a plan of action to create investment and change in Visitacion Valley. Among the commitments of the MOU, the City an HUD agreed to demolish Geneva Towers, rebuild housing on several sites and assist housing developers in the Valley to assure that an absolute minimum of 30 percent of the trainees, employees, contractors and subcontractors be residents of the Valley, with priority given to the former Towers tenants and Sunnydale residents. There are three housing developments being constructed in the Valley at the present time: Heritage Homes (formerly Geneva Towers), John King Senior Housing, and the Britton Street Site. Currently, all three housing developers meet monthly with the City to coordinate the three projects, around issues such as local hiring, spearheaded by Visitacion Valley Jobs, Education and Training (VVJET), and child care. Presently, no applications are being given out; the applications will be available in the summer of 1999. If you would like to be on a list for housing information, please call (415) 553-6360. Following is an update on the three sites: HERITAGE HOMES
JOHN KING SENIOR CENTER
BRITTON STREET SITE
There will be 63 two-bedroom units, 21 three-bedroom units and 8 four-bedroom units. Construction will begin in August of 1998 and occupancy should approximately be ready by fall of 1999. Remembering Gil Lopez by Hilda Guitierrez Baldoquin and Nancy Hopson Gil Lopez, long-time and devoted community member, died July 3, 1998 in his home. He had lived exactly 64 years to the day. Personally, I am experiencing the loss
of a great friend, soul brother, activist, Community Boards mediator and
trainer, and Motown music dancer supreme, Mr. Gilbert J. Lopez. The power
of Gil's love commitment and community will be felt for years to come.
Visitacion Valley also will miss him. As part of Community Boards, Gil served as a trainer for the Visitacion Valley Task Force. He unfailingly modeled the respectful attention that he deeply believed we all owe to each other. Resolution Commends Voting Integrity Project by Doug Comstock The Committee to Stop the Giveaway unanimously passed a resolution commending the Voting Integrity Project (VIP) for its assistance to the voters of San Francisco. The resolution also seeks the further assistance of VIP to appeal the ruling of Judge Ray Williamson that effectively halted the citizen initiative to repeal D and F in time to appear on the November ballot. The Committee found that the ruling to be capricious and without any legal precedent. Since there remains some confusion regarding the appeals and applications to the appeals court the following clarifications are offered: The Voting Integrity Project, a non-profit public interest group, funded an Election Contest, the original litigation to overturn the stadium/mall vote of June 3, 1997 on grounds it found convincing that the election was fundamentally flawed and illegal. That Contest was ruled untimely by Judge Ray Williamson, who offered no judgement as to its content. That decision VIP has agreed to appeal at its expense. Finding no satisfaction from the court, the Committee to Stop the Giveaway went to the voters via petition--that effort was also funded largely through the generosity of VIP. The 49ers filed its lawsuit to repress the petition with the same judge, Ray Williamson, whose unprecedented ruling, should it stand, will require the language of a petition to pass a test of political correctness (the standards of which have yet to be devised). VIP funded the defense against that assault on Free Speech. Because of the time element (days before the signature turn-in) VIP again funded a Writ of Mandamus to suspend Williamson's decision with the appeals court. The writ was joined by the First Amendment Coalition, among others, through a friend of the court briefs. The appeals judges declined to interview without comment. Judge Williamson's repression of the petition has not been appealed. Stop the Giveaway has solicited assistance from VIP to fund an appeal on that ruling. We are hopeful that they will do so because the considerable expense of such an undertaking is daunting. We will continue to collect signatures in spite of the judge's decision on the petition, with the view to our filing date of October 15th to qualify for the next election. Those signatures are still coming in and we encourage people to assist us with that. Though we have the required number, we still need to work on the "cushion" to insure verification when an appeal is successful. The significant issue in the repression of the initiative to repeal the stadium/mall is Free Speech. The power to petition for redress of grievances is a fundamental power reserved to the people. It is not merely a right. COMMITTEE TO STOP THE GIVEAWAY RESOLUTION: Whereas: The voters of San Francisco have benefitted from the expertise and assistance of the Voting Integrity Project (VIP), a non profit public interest group, in the following matters: 1. Funded the original Election Contest,
litigation that seeks to overturn the controversial stadium/mall election
of June 3, 1997.
Whereas:
Therefore:
Requests that the Voting Integrity Project further assist the voters of San Francisco in an appeal of the decision to suppress the petition before an appropriate court. Museum Expands Schedule to Six Days a Week Thanks to the Essey Family Foundation, the M.H. de young Museum in Golden Gate Park is now open to visitors six days a week from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. "This extra day will allow San Franciscans more time to visit a cultural treasure," noted Director of Museums Harry Parker, "while increasing the attendance revenues that are vital for our survival. Furthermore, Tuesdays will become heavy visitation days for school children and other educational groups." The de Young's sister museum, the California
Palace of the Legion of Honor, is also open Tuesday though Sunday.
Located at 75 Tea Garden Drive in Golden Gate Park, on the Music Concourse next to the Japanese Tea Garden, the museum has extended hours to 8:45 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month. (There is no admission charge on First Wednesday.) Admission to the museum is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors 65 and over, and $4 for youths 12 to 17. Children under 12 and San Francisco students with ID (K-12) are admitted free. Photography Slide Presentation There will be a slide presentation and lecture on Preservation and Historical Uses of Photography by Philip Adam on Sept. 8, 8 p.m. at 3333 California St. Funds Granted to Neighborhood Parks Friends of Recreation and Parks has granted $100,000 to San Francisco's neighborhood parks, announced Michael J. Fleming, president, amending the $50,000 granted last year. The Neighborhood Park Grants are available to community groups or individuals interested in improving their neighborhood parks for special projects, programs, events or physical improvements. Awards are between $1,000-$10,000. The purpose of these grants is "to build a sense of community around parks on an ongoing basis," said Donna Emstson, Friends executive director. "Working with neighbors of all ages on park activities solidifies positive feelings in communities. Convening in the parks adds aesthetic, creative and athletic elements to that cooperation. Everyone wins." New proposals can be submitted to local park supervisors or to Friends through Friday, Sept. 4. The project must create an enhancement for a neighborhood park, either physical or programmatic, and must include a "match" either in cash or in-kind goods or services. In addition, it should serve as a model of collaboration with the San Francisco with the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. Examples of successful proposals include: the construction of planter boxes for a children's gardening program; a series of volunteer work days supported by community barbecues; and development of a native plant propagation area with interpretive signs. "These are just a few ideas, but anything that makes your park a better place is eligible for funding," said Mike Nicoson, project manager at the Friends. Senior Health Fair at SFSU St. Luke's Hospital is sponsoring a free Back to School Days Senior Health Fair for senior citizens on Wednesday, Aug. 28 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Seven Hills Convention Center at San Francisco State University. Call 641-6465 for more information. Valley Woman Dies After Hit-and-Run A hit-and-run accident in the Excelsior District on July 16 claimed the life of a Visitacion Valley woman. Rizalyne Melad, 18, a recent graduate of Philip and Sala Burton High School, was crossing Geneva Avenue at Madrid Street in a crosswalk when struck by a car that did not stop. Another motorist attempted to pursue the vehicle as it sped away. Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility Minutes of July 22, 1998, 7 p.m. Present: Don Bertone, Little Hollywood Resident; Sanitary Fill Company, Brad Orda; Sanitary Fill Company, John Legnitto; City of San Francisco, Maisha Reed; City of San Francisco, Karen Strandoo; Sanitary Fill Company, Tom Watkins. I. Reviewed and discussed photographs of the Household Hazardous Waste Transfer Station Inspection by the Department of Public Health. Tom Watkins presented slides of three violations cited in the inspection that were corrected immediately during the inspection. The Household Hazardous Waste Facility was given 24-hour notice of the inspection. II. Brad Orda presented a draft of a direct mail notice that Sanitary Fill Company will send out to Little Hollywood residents outlining the requirements of the Neighborhood Emergency Response Training. Don Bertone will collect the names of 20 residents and submit them to the Fire Department, in order for the Fire Department to conduct the training. Don Bertone mentioned that he would investigate possible meeting places for the training to take place. III. Brad Orda announced that there will be an evacuation drill at the Transfer Station on July 30 at 2:00 p.m. and invited residents to come an observe. IV. Maisha Reed and Karen Strandoo gave a brief update on the pilot curbside used oil program that will soon be serving residents in areas with high rates of illegal oil dumping. If there are any questions on the curbside used oil program, contact Maisha Reed at (415) 554-1652. V. Don Bertone stated that much of the business discussed in this meeting could be handled by memorandum. Tom Watkins suggested that a proposed agenda be written and sent out to concerned residents by July 13, and if they decide a meeting is necessary, one will be scheduled on October 21 at 7:00 p.m. To discuss the need for a meeting, call Maisha Reed at (415) 554-1652. Fitting College into a Busy Schedule with Telecourses Finally there is a way for you to fit college into your busy schedule. The program is called Telecourses. City College of San Francisco Telecourses are college credit courses. They are designed for people who can not go to campus every week for 17 weeks because of work and/or family obligations. The CCSF Telecourse student goes to school only three times during the semester: once for an orientation, once for a midterm and once for a final. All campus meetings are scheduled on a Saturday and on a weeknight, and the student can go to whichever meeting is most convenient. The rest of the time is spent watching the video lessons on cable channel 52, the Educational Access cable channel here in San Francisco. Because students are watching at home, they have the opportunity to video tape their lessons. This allows the students to watch at their convenience and gives the students the opportunity to review the lessons as often as they want. In addition, all video lessons are on file at the Media Center in the Rosenberg Library on the City College Phelan campus. This truly makes Telecourses much more flexible than a classroom course because students can learn at their own pace. Most City College Telecourses grant three units of college credit. The cost for a Telecourse is only $12 per unit. All CCSF Telecourses count towards an AA Degree and many are transferable to a four-year university. For the fall semester, City College
is offering the following 18 Telecourses: Art 116: Art of the Western World;
Art 118: Art America; Ast 1: Universe: The Infinite Frontier; BCST 103:
Media Waves; Chem 110: World of Chemistry; Eng 48J & 49J: Joseph Campbell:
Transformation of Myth Through Time; Film 18: American Cinema; Fren 1A:
French in Action; Hist 18B: Americas; Hist 4B: The Africans; Hlth
53: Living With Health; Mus (A: Beginning Piano; Photo 5B: Photographic
Vision; Physics 10: Conceptual Physics; Psyc 1: Discovering Pgychology;
Smbs 135: Something Ventured; Supv 231: Taking the Lead; and Tha 1: Play,
Performance and Perception.
For more information about Telecourses or to request a brochure, call the City College Telecourse Office at (415) 239-3885. Garden and Composting Educator Training Program Make a difference in your community and gain job skills by participating in the Gardening/Composting Educator Training Program (GCETP). Open to all San Francisco residents, GCETP educators will work with San Francisco schools, community organizations and home gardeners teaching safe and effective gardening and composting. Limited to 30 participants, applications are due by Aug. 15. Call 285-7584 for more information. St. Luke's Hospital Gives Bay Area Blood Supply a Major Boost In a hugely successful effort to shore up the Bay Area's critical shortage of blood, physicians, nurses, technicians and administrative staff at St. Luke's Hospital donated 98 pints of blood at a recent blood drive by the Blood Centers of the Pacific. "That's a record," said Sharolyn Kriger, chief operations officer of Blood Centers, who said about 45 pints are gathered at a typical hospital-organized blood drive. "The St. Luke's blood drive will mean the difference between life and death for patients in our community," said Kriger, whose organization collects, processes and distributes blood throughout the Bay Area. "It was an amazing shot in the arm for the Bay Area's blood supply." Kriger said that Blood Centers of the Pacific has been working to restock depleted supplies ever since the Tuesday after Memorial Day--traditionally the day of highest demand for blood the entire year. "The timing for St. Luke's tremendous donation could not have been better," said Kriger. "St. Luke's Hospital has enjoyed its most successful year in 127 years of operation and we are happy to give back to the community with this blood drive," said Jack Fries, president and CEO of the hospital. "We want to show people that it's not difficult to give blood; anybody can do it," said Tom Birt, a laboratory technician at St. Luke's Hospital, who worked with Fries to organize the event. Donors were treated to a barbecue in St. Luke's courtyard. St. Luke's Hospital was founded in 1871
and is dedicated to providing quality health care to Bay Area residents.
Light Rail Project Workshop in Valley Light rail will change Third Street, bringing a new and improved look from King Street all the way to Visitacion Valley. In June, Muni began working with a team of architects and artists to design light rail stations and shelters, as well as other new streetscape elements. On Sept. 9 during a 7 p.m. neighborhood workshop at Schlage Lock, 2401 Bayshore Blvd., Muni's design team will present alternative design concepts for each neighborhood, based on suggestions from the previous workshop. Call the project hotline at (415) 703-6655 for more information. SFUSD Reading and Math Scores Rise for Sixth Year in a Row Students in the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) continue to show significant academic improvement on test scores for the sixth consecutive year. On the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (CTBS), students exceeded the national average for the third year in a row. District-wide, SFUSD student reading scores rose to 51.8 on the Normal Curve Equivalent (NCE) scale for the 1997-98 school year, registering a net gain of 1.2 NCE over the 1997-98 scores. In math, SFUSD students scored 56.7 NCE, registering a net gain of .8 NCE over last year. Superintendent of Schools Bill Rojas attributed the positive results to a quality teaching and staff workforce, smaller class sizes at the lower grades, extended school days in the middle and high schools and SFUSD's high-quality professional development program. "Ongoing professional development is a major factor in raising the academic levels of all students," explained Rojas. "Class size reduction is also providing an excellent investment strategy for student achievement. Our second and third graders are performing above national average in both reading and math. These higher scores will definitely pay off as the students move through the grade levels and prepare to attend college." SFUSD has documented student achievement based on the CTBS for more than a decade, allowing the District to chart how its students are doing over time. This data is used by educators to accurately evaluate teaching methods and results. Analysis of SFUSD's test scores continue to show the following positive trends: *Students who have completed English Language Development and Bilingual Education programs outperform their monolingual peers, a tendency, a tendency also evident on test scores statewide; *The number of students in the highest performing quartile increased, while the number of students in the lowest performing quartile decreased; *Students in all ethnic groups improved
over their 1996-97 CTBS results.
The California Superior Court upheld SFUSD's position to exempt Limited English Proficient (LEP) students who have less than 30 months of English instruction. The SFUSD did test 7,728 students (6298 with more than 30 months of English instruction and another 1,430 students with less than 30 months, based on teacher or parent recommendation). The District did not test 5,704 LEP students who had less than 30 months of English. While a State Supreme Court judge ruled that the scores of LEP students tested with less than 30 months may not be used for academic decision-making purposes, some policy makers are now trying to use the artificially low test scores of LEP students throughout the state to justify their call for holding students back, school sanctions and vouchers. Teens Participate in Summer Internship at Golden Gate Park Nida Chandeeing is learning, teaching and working at a summer internship program in Golden Gate Park, sponsored by the Friends of Recreation and Parks. Along with other Sunset and Richmond teens referred from Enterprise for High School Students, she'll be leading walks and bike tours and taking surveys at the park's newly-renovated West End from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. As part of their internship, the nine teens will take families, small groups or individuals on nature walks, utilizing Golden Gate Discovery Packs, recently designed by the Friends of Recreation and Parks. The packs include a: Super Sonic Ear to hear faraway sounds, telescope/microscope, bug catcher, binoculars, trek belt to tote the equipment, and books to identify the birds, plants insects and animals of San Francisco. The packs can also be checked out from Beach Chalet with no charge Wednesday through Sunday by families who wish to explore independently. In addition to the tours, the Enterprise group is also polling park users to gather attitudes and opinions about the park and its programs. Results of the survey will help direct Friends of Recreation and Parks to provide programming with special events that will attract more visitors to the West End of the park. Other groups of enterprise teams are creating a small global garden behind the Beach Chalet of vegetables, ornamental flowers and plants appropriate for the coastal environment. It features useful plants from various cultures. With three crews of eight teenagers each, plus a college-age supervisor, the young gardeners are on-site from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. One of the crews works in the nursery, but all of them rotate through it. Friends of Recreation and Parks is a non-profit organization committed to protecting and enhancing San Francisco's treasured green spaces. From Golden Gate Park to 205 neighborhood parks, open spaces and recreation programs, the Friends have raised millions of dollars to ensure a bright future for the City's 4,000 acres of parkland. Recent significant projects include:
revitalization of Golden Gate Park's West End, planting of tens of thousands
of trees and shrubs, creation of the Neighborhood Park Grants Program and
opening of Golden Gate Park's first Visitor Center in the Beach Chalet.
Kites to Fill Sky at Golden Gate Park San Francisco children of all cultural backgrounds are invited to fly kites of their own, or their own making during the annual Multi-Cultural Kite Festival, sponsored by the Friends of Recreation and Parks, taking place Saturday, Aug. 29 from 12 noon until 3 p.m. at the Beach Chalet soccer fields. "The first 100 children will receive a free paint-a-kite which they can design, decorate and fly in the festival," said Friends president Michael J. Fleming. "We'll also have free Caribbean food, plus calypso steel music by the B&B Pan Jammers." Crisis Line Volunteers Needed Are you a good listener? Caring? Supportive? Understanding? Do you want a real challenge? Do you need or want counseling skills? If so, then San Francisco Suicide Prevention needs your help. Volunteers are needed to provide emotional support in a non-judgmental manner, to provide crisis management, and to provide information and referrals when appropriate. Extensive training is provided. The next training class will begin Sept. 19, 1998. Join and be part of a San Francisco
tradition. Please call (415) 984-1900 immediately for an application packet
or more information.
Suicide doesn't have to happen. Be more than a friend--be a San Francisco Suicide Prevention volunteer! New Chancellor Named for City College The Board of Trustees of the San Francisco Community College District at its public meeting July 29 unanimously approved the appointment of Dr. Philip R. Day, Jr. to be Chancellor of the63-year-old community college. Dr. Day will assume his new duties on Sept. 1. A Maine native, he comes to City College from Daytona Beach Community College where he has been president for the past eight years. With 16 years of service as CEO of three community colleges, Dr. Day has the experience, leadership and vision to lead CCSF into the 21st Century. City College is proud to have attracted a CEO of such an outstanding national reputation as an educational leader. Dr. Day is highly respected by his colleagues from around the country as evidenced by the many professional organizations to which he belongs and serves in enjoining positions,ö says Rodel Rodis, President of the Board of Trustees of City College of San Francisco. Dr. Day recognizes the pivotal role that City College plays in the economic well-being of San Francisco and looks forward to implementing programs and courses which will meet the educational needs of students who are interested in training for well-paying career jobs, Trustee Rodis adds, "My wife, Val, and I are absolutely excited about City College and the city of San Francisco. We are both looking forward with great anticipation to the assignment," said Dr. Day of his new Chancellorship. The 52-year-old Dr. Day has more than 26 years of experience as a teacher and community college administrator. A former community college student himself, he began his career in higher education as a Coordinator for Continuing Education at Greenfield Community college in Greenfield, Massachusetts. Subsequent to this, he has held a variety of positions, including Vice-President for Educational Affairs; Vice-President for Planning, Research and Development, and Director of Academic Planning and Research. Dr. Day has had additional experience as a community college president at Cape Cod Community College in Massachusetts and Dundalk Community College in Baltimore, Maryland. Daytona Beach Community College is the fifth largest community college in the State of Florida and it is one of 14 community colleges in Florida whose mission is truly comprehensive. It provides programs and services in areas ranging from adult basic education to the AA/AS degree. Active in professional organizations, Dr. Day serves on the Board of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and has served as chair of the National Commission on Community and Workforce Development. He is a member and immediate past chair of the Committee on Public Policy and Government Relations for the AACC and is a member of the American Association of Community Colleges Association of Community College Trustees Joint Commission on Federal Relations. Most recently, Dr. Day was elected to the Board of Directors of the American Council on Education for a three-year term. Dr. Day earned his doctorate in Adult and Higher Education from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. He received his Master of Education degree from State University of New York in Buffalo and his bachelorÆs degree in Psychology from the University of Maine in Portland. The Board of Trustees of City College of San Francisco selected Dr. Day following a nationwide search. The applicant pool was pared down to four finalists who were invited to meet City College faculty and staff. City College of San Francisco serves the multicultural population of the City and County of San Francisco with credit and non-credit instruction towards the goals of transfer, occupational skills training, English as a Second Language (ESL), and personal enrichment. City College of San Francisco teaches more than 92,000 day and evening students annually at nine campuses and more than 100 additional sites around the city. The College employs more than 750 full-time faculty, 1,000 part-time faculty, 769 classified staff, and 40 administrators. |