Call to Action

To the San Francisco Board of Education Commissioners:

Vote “YES” on the Mission Bay Elementary School Construction, including:

• Vote “Yes” on the Land Transfer from UCSF to SFUSD
• Vote “Yes” on the Environmental Impact Report
• Vote “Yes” on the Design Build Contract

Background

For over a decade, the Mission Bay, South Beach, Transbay, East Cut, Rincon Hill, Dogpatch, and Potrero Hill communities have been advocating for the construction of the Mission Bay Elementary School included in the 1998 Mission Bay Redevelopment Plan. Mission Bay is almost completely built out with over 6,400 units of housing, 30% of which is affordable. One of the few parcels left to be developed is the public school site that will provide capacity not only for children living in Mission Bay but for children living in the adjacent neighborhoods—neighborhoods that have experienced significant housing & population growth over the past decade.

Presently, the closest schools for these high-density communities are two schools in Potrero Hill and Bessie Carmichael on 7th street in Western SOMA. Each of these schools has City-wide programs, limiting the number of available seats for local students. Funding for the Mission Bay School was secured in a 2016 school bond. Without the Mission Bay School moving forward immediately, families will continue to struggle getting their children to public school, the cost to construct the school will continue to increase and there is a significant risk of losing the funding and land for the project.

In Summary

• We have the land for free as part of the Mission Bay Development Plan
• We have full funding for the project secured via the 2016 General Obligation Bond
• This eastern part of San Francisco, including Transbay, South Beach, Rincon Hill, Mission Bay, Dogpatch, and Potrero Hill, is meeting its obligation to provide both market-rate and affordable housing. But the infrastructure to support the families in these neighborhoods, including schools, lag, and these families lack the level of City-services enjoyed by residents in other parts of San Francisco.
• The construction of the Mission Bay School is a necessary, cost-efficient way to begin providing support to these neighborhoods.

Reference Sources

1. Mission Bay School - Virtual Presentation Community Engagement (Nov 2020)
2. SFUSD Mission Bay School Updates (Sept 2021)
3. Presentation to B&G Committee on Mission Bay Board Approval Actions (Dec 20, 2021)

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