A coalition of Asian American groups this week called on the resignation of San Francisco School Board president Kevin Boggess.
KRON-4 reports the controversy stems from last year when the parents charged the board rejected a Chinese American application to sit on a parent advisory council due to racial quotas.
In a letter to the school board issued in May, the groups charged the applicant was informed “we received more applications from our Chinese community than could be accommodated” and went on to say “the Chinese seats are filled.”
In May of this year, the school board voted to review the application process for the parent advisory committee with Boggess casting the lone dissenting vote. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Boggess said that members of the PAC “felt good” about how the nominations proceeded and denied it was discriminatory.
“San Francisco prides itself on values of equality and civil rights, but President Boggess’ actions fall short of vindicating those values. Accordingly, we call upon Mr. Boggess to immediately resign from his role as board president,” the letter concluded.
The groups signing the letter include the Chamber of Commerce group ACE Nextgen, a coalition of employee resource groups called Asian Leaders Alliance, a civil rights groups called Stand with Asian Americans and several newer groups launched in response to the rise in anti-Asian hate-Compassion in Oakland/San Francisco, Dear Community, Delta Chinatown Initiative, Elimin8hate and Stand with Asians.
The call for the resignation continues a trend in San Francisco of turmoil in the San Francisco School District. Many Asian American parents have expressed dissatisfaction with the direction of the board and have openly pushed to oust its members. Last year voters recalled school board members Alison Collins, Board President Gabriela Lopez, and Faauuga Moliga.
Then later that same year, Board member Ann Hsu failed to win election after previously being appointed by Mayor London Breed following the recall of the three board members. Hsu made what many considered racist comments directed at Black and Hispanic parents.
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