Willie Brown Jr. Academy razed (one of the worst 188 schools in the state)

SFGate.com ^ | 9/4/12 | Jill Tucker

[NormsRevenge]

What had been one of the lowest-performing, under-enrolled schools in San Francisco was little more than a pile of rubble as workers demolished Willie Brown Jr. Academy in the city's Bayview neighborhood.

Loud hydraulic excavators bit off pieces of the few remaining walls still standing last week at the school, which served about 160 students in grades four through eight until June 2011. With blue sky visible above and gaping holes nearby, a paper sign directed visitors to the now-nonexistent counseling office.

Soon, the tons of mangled rebar and concrete chunks will be carted off for recycling and the 4-acre lot will be vacant, a clean slate to rebuild a new school.

Three years from now, a $40 million, state-of-the-art science- and music-focused middle school for 650 students will open its doors on the site.

School district officials hope the new school, which incorporates design elements reflecting the importance of circles in African cultures, will be embraced by the neighborhood and families across the city.

"I'm incredibly optimistic about what we're doing and how we're doing it," said David Goldin, the district's chief facilities officer. "I think it's a school that needs to be reborn."

Before closing in 2011, the public school posted some of the lowest test scores in the state. The rundown building, a former police academy, required at least $11 million in upgrades. One of worst in state

When the state designated it as one of the worst 188 schools in the state and demanded the district reform it or shutter it, district officials opted for the latter.

"This can't be a school like it was," Goldin said.

The new school will be front and center on the property on Silver Avenue, rather than pushed to the back behind a parking lot, as the old one was.

[P.O.E.]

This place closed in 2011. It's in one of the worst neighborhoods in Asbury Park, NJ.

[Rumplemeyer]

School district officials hope the new school, which incorporates design elements reflecting the importance of circles in African cultures...

---

News flash, YOU ARE NOT IN AFRICA, YOU ARE IN AMERICA.

Most of the area’s residents couldn’t find Africa on a map.

[bert]

.....Most of the area’s residents couldn’t find Africa on a map......

None could name the name of Africa’s President. Some thought it was a trick question because Africa has a Prime Minister

[Clint N. Suhks]

Mad Cow!

[Cyber Liberty]

Do these morons really think the problem with the school was the building? That’s like blaming spoons for Michael Moore being fat.

[BfloGuy]

Most of the area’s residents couldn’t find Africa on a map.

That's the problem. It is the child's responsibility to obtain an education. His parents must teach him that, of course. The school building is of minor importance.

[upchuck]

Under performing school... what to do...

I know! Tear it down!! Yeah, that’s the ticket. We’ll teach that school a lesson it will never forget. It’ll be a long time before that school acts up again. YEAH!!

[workerbee]

"We're taking a calculated risk that by doing this, believing the entire community will embrace this new asset, and they and we together are going to take care of it," Goldin said. "It's a different way of looking at a school in a neighborhood traditionally fraught with problems."

Remember those words, Mr. Goldin, as you "replace" the Willie L. Brown Jr. College Preparatory Academy Dream School (yes, that was it's actual name).

Remember those $40 million words.

[glyptol]

You forgot to add that the teachers need a raise regardless of their work.

Hope and change their diapers.

[NonValueAdded]

I see, it was the building’s fault.