San Francisco, CA
Tamalpais Union High School District makes controversial staffing cut
The contracts of two North Bay high school employees were at the center of a heated debate on Tuesday.
Parents and students said the two consultants have made a measurable difference for Black students, but those in charge aren’t convinced the positions were necessary in the first place.
Sophomore Roman Cole said they’ve turned around Tamalpais High School in just a year.
“Overall just unsafe for people of color at Tamalpais High School, and they made it a way safer and enjoyable place,” said Cole about the changes over the last school year.
He said now he’s enjoying school, but his freshman year was a different story.
He didn’t want to go. He said some students would call kids of color racial slurs, and that there was even a photo circulating online of a girl with one written on her face.
“Some people’s moms were literally moving them to different schools last year,” explained Cole. “Some people of color’s kids are not here anymore because of the situation at Tam last year.”
In August of 2024, contractors Tenisha Tate-Austin and Paul Austin were brought in. They provide support to students of color by mentoring, working to improve grades, and creating a feeling of belonging.
Nearly 40 people took to the podium to express their support.
“If you look up the numbers at Tam right now black students are doing better than any school in this district,” said Lorenzo Bynam. “Numbers don’t lie.”
Last year, 53 percent of Black and biracial students had at least one D or worse grade; this year, the number had improved by more than 15 percent.
At the meeting, representatives from the district administration recommended extending their contracts one year, but Board President Cynthia Roenisch did not agree
“I find it hard that an educator gets up and makes a recommendation that we have to pay $250,000 dollars for halftime work,” said Roenisch.
Throughout Roenisch’s remarks the crowd got upset.
“If the audience can’t be respectful, I’m going to ask you to leave,” threatened Roenisch.
She continued on, arguing they never should have been contracted in the first place.
“Going back and looking at it, I’m going to say we inappropriately approved those consultant contracts because the services that are provided are not specialized services,” said Roenisch. “They are services that are provided in the job description of the assistant principal, of the dean, of teachers, of counsellors.”
By a vote of 3-2, Tate-Austin and Austin’s contracts were not renewed. Cole said he was shocked by the decision and questions what will happen next.
“It’s honestly a shame,” said Cole. “I don’t know what we’re going to do next year, and I hope that what happens next year is not going to be what happened for my freshman year.”
San Francisco, CA
Body cam footage released in South San Francisco police shooting
(KRON) — The South San Francisco Police Department released video Thursday showing what led up to two officers shooting a man who authorities said was armed with a knife.
On December 8 at around 5:10 a.m., police arrived at the 900 block of Sandra Court on the report of a man under the influence of drugs and making threats to kill himself. When officers made contact with the man, identified as 28-year-old Luis Francisco-Manzo, he initially complied with orders, authorities said.
Officer-worn body camera video shows Francisco-Manzo walking toward officers in the entrance hallway of an apartment complex with his arms raised. A small dog barks as officers give repeated commands. Suddenly, Francisco-Manzo appears in the entranceway next to officers as one calls out, “He’s got a knife.”
Officer Brendan Hart, who has been with SSFPD for eight years, fired a Taser at Francisco-Manzo, but it did not have the intended effect, police said.
Four gunshots are heard in the body camera video. Police said Officer Hart and Officer Martin Corona were the officers who discharged their weapons. Officer Corona has seven years of law enforcement experience with over four years at SSFPD.
Francisco-Manzo was transported to the hospital in critical condition. On Thursday, authorities said he continues to recover in the hospital. No officers were injured in the incident.
The police shooting remains under investigation by the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.
San Francisco, CA
Pedestrian killed in San Francisco hit-and-run crash
SAN FRANCISCO – A hit-and-run crash in San Francisco on Wednesday evening left a pedestrian dead.
Driver fled scene
What we know:
According to the San Francisco Police Department, the crash happened around 6:05 p.m. in the 5500 block of Mission Street. The driver fled the scene after striking the pedestrian.
The victim died at the scene.
Officers have not yet provided a description of the suspect vehicle involved in the incident.
No further details were immediately released.
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco: Anti-ICE protester gets probation for ‘depredation’ of ICE van’s tire
SAN FRANCISCO — A protester who was initially charged with misdemeanor assault has been sentenced to probation for a less serious offense, ending a federal prosecution that only started four months ago, court records show.
On Dec. 8, Angelica Guerrero, 35, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor “depredation” of an ICE van’s tire — a fancy legal term for slashing it with a knife. The same day, a federal judge sentenced Guerrero to probation, according to a minute order of the hearing.
The charge stemmed from an Aug. 20 protest, when Guerrero slashed the tire of an unmarked Chevrolet van being used in an ongoing “enforcement and removal” operation by the Department of Homeland Security on the 100 block of Montgomery Street, according to prosecutors. The complaint alleges that Guerrero “made repeated threats” against one of the officers, including stating, “I’m going to (expletive) you up” and “I’m going after your family,” as well as threatening to stab the officer.
Guerrero was released within 48 hours but complained of “barbaric” conditions inside Santa Rita Jail, during an interview with ABC7.
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