HAYWARD — An overflow crowd turned out for a school board meeting this week to speak up for programs on the chopping block because of budget shortfalls, and for school staff members who have been pink-slipped because the state has designated their schools as "persistently lowest-achieving."
On top of a large budget deficit, three of the Hayward Unified School district's facilities — Burbank Elementary School, Longwood Elementary School and Tennyson High School — received the "lowest-achieving" designation, subjecting them to drastic reforms, including layoffs of staff and possible closure.
The Hayward City Hall council chamber and an overflow room were filled Wednesday night, and dozens of parents, students and teachers rallied in front of City Hall well into the night.
Sandra Escobedo, principal at Burbank Elementary School, is one of those who may not be returning this coming school year because the school's test scores remain in the bottom 5 percent of California schools. Schools identified as persistently low performers are entitled to state grants, but only if they comply with certain mandates, such as replacing their principals.
Escobedo has served as principal at Burbank for about 2½ years and is popular with teachers, students and parents who do not want to see her go. The school has seen its Academic Performance Index score increase by 50 points under her tenure.
Speakers asked the board to take
action to keep Escobedo, including applying for a waiver or exception with the state.